The face of David Emanuel Academy was vastly altered after lightning struck the century-old building in Stillmore Saturday evening.
    A resulting fire destroyed part of the school and forced cancellation of classes this week. Classes are tentatively scheduled to resume next Monday, according to the DEA website.
    The first call came through at 6:48 p.m., said Swainsboro-Emanuel County Fire Department Chief Michael Strobridge. People were reporting seeing flames in the front building of the school. Six fire engines from Emanuel and Candler Counties responded to the blaze.
    The school’s main two-story building, which was estimated to have been in service since 1904, was totally destroyed in the fire, Chief Strobridge said. The building housed a classroom, science lab and wrestling gym.
    With 70 people fighting the fire, they were able to contain it to the building where it originated and kept it from spreading to the connecting buildings. The adjoining library and classrooms were untouched by the fire, Strobridge said.
    There was no damage to that part of the school, except some slight water damage, he said, but every single book and computer in the library is salvageable.
    “You have to see it to believe it,” he said. “There’s not even any smoke damage to these connecting buildings.”
    While the school was unoccupied at the time of the fire, one fire fighter incurred a slight injury during his duties.
    Glenn Allen, a spokesman for Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine, confirmed on Monday that the fire was caused by lightning and said the loss is estimated at more than $300,000.
    Strobridge said according to accounts from witnesses, along with findings during the investigation, officials are confident in filing a lightening strike report as the start of the DEA fire.
    The damage assessment has now been turned over to the state fire marshal in deciding what areas of the school are safe to use and when students and teachers can continue with the school year.
    The Associated Press contributed to this report.