A fire broke out at Memorial Middle School Sunday afternoon, leaving one classroom damaged in what Kingsville Fire Department officials believe is a case of arson.

The fire department responded to a call at approximately 12:45 p.m. where haze was seen coming from the back of the school, which faces South Armstrong.

According to Fire Capt.Don Erebia, upon arriving at the school, firefighters discovered that the back windows had been broken where someone gained entry.

The fire was controlled within six minutes of firefighters’ arrival, according to fire department reports.

The Kingsville fire marshal’s preliminary investigation has concluded that the fire was confined to one classroom and ignited in a trash can surrounded by paper, which caused the fire to spread to the top of a filing cabinet on the east wall of the room, according to fire department reports.

“There was heat damage to some computers in the classroom, and although the fire didn’t spread to any other classrooms, smoke traveled through the wings of the school, which was later ventilated,” Erebia said.

The Kingsville Police Department was called in to take fingerprints, and KISD maintenance personnel were called to secure the area and board up the broken windows.

Repairs to the building were started the next day.

Kingsville school district staff members were summoned to review the video surveillance, which appears to show a lone male entering the premises, according to police authorities.

The image is described as very pixelated, which makes it difficult to get a clear image, according to police.

Arrangements are currently being made to enhance the images so that photos can be released to the public.

Police are hoping once the images are seen by the public, identification of the suspect can be made.

Memorial Middle School serves seventh and eighth grade students.

The school had been closed for the Christmas holiday.

According to Bill Watson, assistant principal, the damages to the building should be repaired before class resumes on Monday.