Police Investigate Fire at Okmulgee High School

Enlarge image

Credit KWGS News File Photo

OKMULGEE, Okla. (AP) — Authorities say a 17-year-old former student has confessed to starting a fire that damaged Okmulgee High School.

Police Chief Joe Prentice says the former student broke into the school late Monday and started a fire. Prentice tells Tulsa television station KJRH that water from the building's sprinkler system caused more damage than the flames.

School officials say the sprinklers rained down water on all three floors of the building. Officials don't yet have an estimate of the damages.

Prentice says the former student confessed to starting the blaze. The teen's case has been turned over to the state's Office of Juvenile Affairs.