Firefighters Battle Blaze At Old Farmington High School

(Farmington, IL) -- Firefighters from all over the area are in Farmington battling a fire at the old Farmington High School on Vernon Street. The Farmington Fire Department was dispatched to the building on the report of smoke coming from the building at about 5:30. Shortly after, Fairview and Copperas Creek were dispatched to the scene as well as Canton. Eventually all fire departments from Fulton County were dispatched to the fire as well as fire departments from Limestone, Elmwood, Logan-Trivoli, Peoria, Morton and Elba-Salem. Much of the damage occurred in the north portion of the structure. Firefighters appear to have been able to save the back two wings of the school building and the gymnasium. The old Farmington High School was built in 1925 and was used by the Farmington Central School District until 2004. In 2005 the building was bought by Spark and Dan Meister and is now the Old School Center, a family retreat center. The structure is a 75,000 square foot building according to the center's website. Authorities are not sure where the fire started at this point. No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. Firefighters are expected to remain on the scene throughout the day as well as into tomorrow.