Sickles High School briefly evacuated while firefighters battle house fire near campus

TAMPA — School officials briefly evacuated Sickles High School Thursday morning while firefighters battled a house fire near campus, officials said.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews were called to a home on the 8300 block of Old Hixson Road about 8:25 a.m. after fire broke out in the attached garage, agency spokesman Eric Seidel said. The house is just south of the Sickles campus.

As firefighters worked to put out the blaze, fire rescue officials suggested school officials evacuate campus buildings as a precaution due to heavy smoke, district spokeswoman Tanya Arja said. Students were directed to the bus ramp area on the north side of campus about 8:40 a.m. and returned to class about 9:10 a.m.

Firefighters did not find anyone in the home, then worked to fight the fire from outside after the flames spread to the attic, Seidel said. No injuries have been reported. Officials were investigating what caused the fire.

Contact Tony Marrero at tmarrero@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3374. Follow @tmarrerotimes.