Grinnell Middle School was evacuated Monday afternoon after fire erupted in a girls’ bathroom. A female student allegedly lit a roll of toilet paper on fire, igniting the plastic toilet paper dispenser and filling the bathroom with smoke. The school was evacuated within a minute-and-a-half and quick thinking by the school’s vice-principal and one of the custodians resulted in the dousing of the flames. When fire fighters and police arrived, the smoke was cleared from the building and students returned to class. Two female students were apprehended on the scene and Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly confirmed Monday night that one of the girls was charged with a felony count of arson. The other girl will not be charged.
