EUGENE, Ore. -- A fire investigators called suspicious destroyed a building at Eugene's Ridgeline Montessori School around 2:30 Wednesday morning.

By 3 in the morning, one building of the school was engulfed in flames.

"I'm amazed that the building is still up," said Richard Taylor, who witnessed the fire. "The flames were like 20 feet high."

Firefighters remained on scene as dawn arrived and the morning commute picked up along 29th Avenue.

Chrystell Reed, the school's administrator, said 80 percent of the school was destroyed beyond repair.

"I am thankful that no one was here in the building and that school was out already," Reed said.

She said the fire won't disrupt the school, a charter program that leases space from the Eugene School District.

"We're going to find a new place to have school," Reed said. "We are going to replace everything and with the same staff re-open this fall."

Police are investigating the fire as suspicious and have not ruled out arson.

Anyone who has information about the fire is asked to call Detective Steve Williams at (541) 682-2682.

Administrators from both schools mentioned said arson has been a frequent problem at the school. The school district is reviewing tapes from motion-sensitive cameras installed around the buildings.

If the fire does prove to be arson, the school district is prepared to offer a $1,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

The Ridgeline Montessori School is located at the intersection of 29th and Lincoln Street in south Eugene and shares the building with The Village School. Eugene's 4J School District currently leases the property to the two charter schools.

Classrooms for kindergarten through sixth grade were destroyed. School administrators estimate the classrooms were being used by more than 190 students. Classes are currently out for summer vacation.

At least three ladder trucks and other units were called to the property, formerly known as The Willard School. East 29th Street was blocked off for several hours while fire crews fought to control the flames.

The fire was extinguished by 6 a.m. but not before the building was extensively damaged. | PHOTO GALLERY