ROCKLAND — The Rockland Police Department this week is investigating a fire discovered inside the former MacDougal School, which is slated for demolition next month.

Deputy Chief Wally Tower said Tuesday that sometime between Nov. 26 and Oct. 15, a pile of debris was set on fire in one of the rooms of the school, which closed following the 2009-2010 school year.

"The fire burned itself out," said Tower. "It remains under investigation."

Rockland firefighters have been using the building for training over the last few months, and Fire Chief Charlie Jordan confirmed he reported finding the fire Monday to the police.

The building has been the target of vandals of late, sustaining numerous broken windows, among other damage.

"Inside, things have been broken, there's graffiti on the chalkboards and walls, and paint has been thrown around," said Jordan. "It's typical juvenile stuff, acts of opportunity."

Councilors last week voted 4 to 1 to spend up to $20,000 to demolish the building, and Jordan said the city manager plans to put it out to bid for demolition the first week of November.

"We would love to play it some more, but it's something that needs to come down sooner rather than later at this point," said Jordan.

The North School was built on the site in 1954, and renamed the MacDougal School in 1992 after its longtime principal, Doris Coltart MacDougal. Voters in November 2009 approved the school's closure, on the RSU 13 School Board's recommendation, due to the deteriorated condition of the building and the need to consolidate for cost savings.