Middle school fire under investigation

A fire that torched a bathroom at Vista Middle School in the evening hours of Nov. 7 is under investigation by the fire department, a news release said. 

Las Cruces Fire Department officials said the fire, discovered by a staff member in the middle school bathroom around 5:30 p.m., was put out about five minutes after firefighters were dispatched to the building on the 4400 block of Elks Drive. 

“A school event was occurring at the time of the fire, however, is not believed to have been connected to the fire. LCFD fire investigators believe a mechanical or electrical malfunction in the bathroom may have contributed to the ignition of the fire. Preliminary evidence indicates the fire was not intentionally ignited,” the news release said. 

No injuries were reported during the incident, and the news release did not have damage estimates.