6 Classrooms Damaged In Fire At South Sacramento Middle School

SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) – An early morning fire left a south Sacramento middle school with heavy damage.

The fire happened at James Rutter Middle School on Palmer House Drive.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, it started about 2 a.m. Thursday when a burglar alarm went off inside the school. An official with the Elk Grove Unified School District went to check it out, saw smoke and called firefighters.

Sacramento Metro Fire crews, Sacramento City Fire and Cosumnes Fire responded and started a nearly hour-long firefight.

Three school building wings were affected by the fire, the district says. A total of six classrooms were damaged.

The district says the core area of the school suffered extensive damage. Due to the damage, the school will be closed until the area is restored.

A classroom rabbit named Sophia was rescued from one of the rooms, the district says.

More than 900 students attend James Rutter Middle School. The district says the school will be closed Friday and through spring break. It's expected to reopen for instruction by April 17.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.