Marion County school deemed fire hazard; operates uninspected for 10 years

A Marion County school believed by state fire inspectors to be closed for more than 10 years for serious fire code and asbestos violations has actually remained open and occupied with students for years, a state report shows.

Officials with the state's Division of Fire Inspection visited Marion Academy, an alternative school, on Oct. 14 after receiving an email complaint. Deputy state fire marshals found students occupying the unsafe building, which they believed had been closed since 2001.

October's report says that the building hasn't been inspected by fire officials since 2001, when the school, formerly Jasper Elementary, was emptied because of construction of a new elementary building.

"Furthermore, the fire code deficiencies that were listed in inspection reports prior to July 5, 2011 have not been corrected and still remain present in the facility," the report states.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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