Firefighters encountered white smoke throughout the gymnasium and extinguished the fire immediately.

Students discovered the fire in the gymnasium and alerted school officials. Principal Jeff Wright extinguished the initial flames with a fire extinguisher and then called 911.

Faculty evacuated approximately 500 students to a separate area of the school complex.

Fulton Fire investigators determined a malfunctioning ceiling light in the gymnasium caused the fire. They estimate damage at $4,000.

One student was taken to a Columbia hospital with non-fire related injuries.