HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – Holland public safety officials say a fire at the former Washington Elementary School was deliberately set. Firefighters were called the former school building on East 11th Street just before 11 a.m. Thursday, September 1. They initially found smoke on both the first and second floors, then found a small, but active fire on the first floor, and quickly put the flames out. After that fire was extinguished, investigators found other small fires inside the building, leading them to believe arson as the cause. Crews were on the scene for about two hours. No one was hurt. The 88-year-old building was used as a school until 2005, then was later used as administrative offices for Holland Public Schools. The district sold the building last summer Colliers International and Fusion Properties of Grand Rapids. Plans are in the works to renovate the building into 18 residential condominium units. Captain Chris Tinney with the Holland Department of Public Safety Fire Services is asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity around the school from Wednesday night to Thursday morning to call Silent Observer at 877-88-SILENT.
Update by Greg chandler
