Sheriff's Office Investigating Fires Near School

The Greenville County Sheriff's Office is investigating several recent small brush fires near Eastside High School in Taylors. 

The first fire was reported at roughly 8 p.m. Aug. 31. at a wooded property adjacent to Eastside High, and was quickly extinguished.

Similarly, on Sept. 2, a fire was reported mid-morning in the same general vicinity right beside the school and quickly extinguished.

Myles Medlin, 19, was arrested at the scene of the second fire, but not for having caused it, according to Lt. Michael Hildebrand with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. 

"This person was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. This arrest is not related to the fires. This person was in the area and the
paraphernalia was found during the investigation," Hildebrand said in a Tuesday release. 

Then, at 6 p.m. Monday, another small brush fire in the woods was reported. 

"In each fire, a small area of brush and woods were set on fire in a wooded area near the school," Hildebrand said. "None of the fires
have caused any property damage aside from the ground."

Investigators with the GCSO were at Eastside High looking into the string of small fires Tuesday.

The wooded area in question, which is at the very rear of the school behind the football practice fields, is intended to be used for its trails by cross-country runners. Still, blackened spots on the ground where fires had previously burned were easily visible Tuesday, as were empty beer cans and other signs of misuse. 

Principal Mike Thorne said he knew nothing more than what the sheriff's office had released. 

"It's concerning," Thorne said. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME.