Lexington's Tates Creek Elementary School was evacuated briefly Thursday morning when an excavating machine caught fire outside the building.

Fayette Public Schools spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall said students were moved to the nearby Tates Creek Middle School as a precaution. They returned to their own school about an hour later, she said.

The incident occurred about 11:15 a.m. when a backhoe being used in connection with Tates Creek Elementary's current renovation project somehow caught fire.

The cause of the blaze remained under investigation Thursday afternoon, the Lexington Fire Department said.

Jim Warren (859) 231-3255.