Escambia High assessing fire damage

PENSACOLA, Fla (WALA) - Escambia High School Principal Mike Sherill said they are assessing the damage from the fire that broke out Tuesday night.

"You see what's happening to your school, and it's a situation that you don't expect. It's kind of a shocking situation actually," said Sherrill.

Authorities said Daniel Quattlebaum, 21, broke into the school through a window and set a computer room on fire.

Emergency crews contained the blaze, but not before it heavily damaged two rooms.

But Sherrill said the smoke damage could be the most significant.

 "The people that come in here and that work here, come inside and see the damage. It's just disheartening,” he said.

Authorities said surveillance video caught Quattlebaum in the act and that he later confessed to the crime.

 Sherrill said some of the staff has taken the fire really hard, some even cried when first seeing the damage.

 "A couple employees saw the damage and it was a sad situation for them. They call this school home and they have an allegiance to it," Sherill said.

Sherrill said it's now a question of whether they can completely recover before students return in August.

"We're going to remain optimistic. We'll make sure everything gets done the way it needs to get done when they come back. It's a sad situation but we'll remain positive."

Sherrill said several computers were destroyed and there could be even more damage from smoke.

According to reports, the damage could be anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000.
Authorities said Quattlebaum confessed to being on drugs at the time of the vandalism.

He's being held in Escambia County Jail with a bond of $112,000.