Fire at Sierra Vista Elementary School in Clovis

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A fire gutted part of the multi-purpose room on the Sierra Vista Elementary School campus at Barstow and Woodworth in Clovis.

Someone passing by earlier Wednesday night, spotted the smoke and called 911. Most of the damage is contained to the multi-purpose room, which serves as an auditorium and cafeteria for the elementary school.

The Clovis Fire Department even called in help from Fresno city and county firefighters, nearly 50 people responded to the scene.

As fire fighters went into the building, almost immediately a mayday call rang out. The Clovis deputy fire chief says the firefighters were standing on a stage in the room, where the flames began to burn below the firefighters. And they feared they'd become trapped.

The building is under construction, but it's not clear if the remodel had something to do with the cause of the fire. The work being done is part of a district-wide project with the Clovis Unified School District.

Fire fighters say no one was on campus when the fire started. And at this point are not calling the fire suspicious.