Brian Holmes-KTVB

Flames spew high into the air above Middleton High School. The fire in the 42-year-old building spread quickly this morning.

MIDDLETON - Fire crews from Middleton, Star, Meridian and Eagle spent most of the day trying to contain to a five-alarm fire at Middleton High School.

The flames were seen early this morning coming from the gym area, which does not have a sprinkler system. The roof collapsed and windows were blown out.

We are told some band members were practicing in the building when the fire broke out around 7 a.m. They got out safely. No others were inside the school.

Middleton High School has about 750 students and three dozen staff members and teachers. The nearby middle school has about 700 students.

Later in the morning an air conditioning unit fell over a firewall and destroyed several more classrooms, according to fire officials.

School is closed for all middle and high school students today. Those students that are already at the building are being bussed home, according to Middleton's superintendent of schools. No classes will be held at either school on Friday.

Fire spread quickly in older buildings

Students, faculty and staff gathered across the street to watch the fire spew flames and smoke into the sky. A plume of black smoke could be seen from many miles away.

Much of Middleton High School is 42 years old and last saw a major fire nearly 30 years ago.

The cause of the fire is unknown but fire officials believe it may have started in the boiler room near the old gym.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is assisting Canyon County in the fire investigation.

Jason O'Brien-KTVB

Staff members work to remove items from Middleton High School before the fire reaches another part of the building.

Student reaction

Alan Hawkins, 18, a Middleton High senior, was running late for choir practice when he noticed smoke coming from the weight room area.

"I saw the smoke, but didn't think it was that big of a deal," said Hawkins.

That changed quickly and Hawkins moved his car to a nearby church parking lot where he has been watching the fire with about 100 onlookers.

Brandi Davis, 16, a Middleton High junior, said a lot of her classmates were crying as they watched their school go up in flames.

"I couldn't take watching it and had to leave. There are a bunch of trophies and stuff from the 1960s inside the school and now they are gone. It is very sad for people who went to school here," said Davis.

Amy Wagner, 16, sophomore, was taken home around 8:15 a.m. on the school bus. She is a third generation family member who has attended Middleton High, following in the footsteps of her parents and grandfather. She was crushed to see her school burning and is worried that she will be separated from friends if the students are sent to different schools to finish out the year.

Autumn Hudson, a sophomore, has created a special chat room for students to talk about what happened and work through it. You can find it at - middletonvikingsrecoveryroom@groups.msn.com.

Rebuilding could be on fast track

Middleton Mayor Frank McKeever said the fire is "devastating" for this small community. He says it will put a tremendous burden on the school district to find places for students to finish up the school year.

McKeever said land has been purchased for a new school that was scheduled to open in either 2008 or 2009. He expects that timeline will now be accelerated in the wake of today's fire.

District officials have said they hope to keep the students together to finish out the school year, but no details have been released. The plan to meet tomorrow morning to discuss some options.

Two nearby churches have offerred the school classroom space and the Meridian School District has offerred to help with portable classroom buildings.

Brian Holmes-KTVB

Middleton High students talked with NewsChannel 7 reporter Kaycee Murray about the devastating fire. There was a lot of tears shed in the parking lot today.

Sprinklers would have minimized damage

Nampa Fire Deputy Fire Chief Doug Strosnider says there were only a couple of minor injuries to report. One firefighter sustained a broken finger while another twisted his knee. The injuries were treated on the scene and both men returned to work.

Strosnider estimates 70 percent of the building was lost in the fire. That's more than 52,000 square-feet. About 20,000 square-feet of the school is still standing.

However, Strosnider says the damage would have been much less if the building was equipped with a sprinkler system. He says the fire would have been extinguished quickly, damage contained and they would be talking about clean up instead of rebuilding.

"We were fortunate today no lives were lost," said Strosnider.

The old gym, band room, weight room, new computer lab and school offices - containing student records - are a total loss. It appears the cafeteria, new gym and school yearbooks have been spared from the fire.

Getting enough water to fight the fire has been a challenge for firefighters, said Strosnider. There are just two hydrants near the school and water was being hauled in by truck to the school.

Brian Holmes-KTVB

Middleton High School sustained major fire and smoke damage. About 70 percent of the building is a total loss according to fire officials.

Free counseling offered Friday

A Middleton counseling service is offering free counseling sessions Friday for Middleton students who want to talk about today's fire.

Aspire Counseling Services will offer three sessions at their office in the Middleton market place.

The sessions will be at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Space for the sessions is limited, so students wishing to attend are asked to call in advance to make sure there is room.

You do that by calling 585-3062.

A spokesperson for Aspire says they are trying to contact the Middleton School District to offer additional counseling to students.

Tonight's wrestling match moved

A wrestling match scheduled for tonight as part of senior night has been moved.

Wrestling coach Keith Love says the match has been moved to Purple Sage Elementary School. The match will start at 6:30 p.m.

School officials are encouraging all students to come out to show their support for the high school seniors.

A fund to help Middleton School District has been set up at local U.S. Bank branches.

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