Binghamton High School Closed After Fire and Fights

Police are investigating disturbances involving several Binghamton High School students that followed an arson fire in the building.

A blaze was reported in a boys' bathroom on the school's third floor around 8:35 a.m. Wednesday.

The school, which has about 1,400 students, was evacuated by the time firefighters arrived.

A video of the fire viewed by WNBF News showed burning toilet paper on the bathroom floor. A fire department duty chief said the blaze was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Fights among students erupted outside the school. One employee said some of those involved had weapons, including guns, knives, pipes and bats.

A school district spokeswoman said classes were suspended for the day after the fire.

During WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, students who were being picked up by a parent said a group of five people armed with metal pipes got out of a car following a fight. One student said they "tried to beat the crap out of another kid." He said "some people definitely got hurt" but there apparently were no serious injuries.

A woman in front of the school told a reporter that two of her daughters had been involved in an incident but she declined to discuss what happened.

City police late Wednesday morning said no arrests had been made but juvenile officers were investigating.

School superintendent Tonia Thompson did not return a call seeking comment.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.