NOKOMIS, IL — A North Elementary School fire likely originated from a custodian's discarded but still-lit cigarette, according to The State Journal-Register.

Darold Johnson, custodian, district’s fire safety officer and assistant fire chief in Nokomis, admitted to smoking inside a storage room in the school that later caught on fire, the story stated.

Superintendent Chuck Stortzum said: "I’m about 98 percent sure it did start that way. Do I have scientific proof? No. But Johnson thought he did start it."

The blaze was contained to the basement storage room and was quickly extinguished; none of the 260 prekindergarten-to-fourth grade students were injured in the matter, the story noted.

The debacle resulted in a six-week unpaid suspension for Johnson; he is set to resume his custodial duties at the school on February 7, the story added.

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