RICHLAND COUNTY, SC — Richland County deputies are investigating an arson threat at Irmo High that was texted to a teacher at another school shortly before smoke from a malfunctioning heating unit spewed from a vent.

The message Friday that the school would burn down allegedly came from the cell phone of Todd Kincannon, a lawyer for Lexington-Richland 5 school board member Kim Murphy embroiled in a residency dispute that could force her off the panel.

Kincannon said he didn’t send the message.

“Somebody made it look like it came from my phone,” he said.

The smoke and text message are unrelated, authorities said.

Deputies increased patrols at schools in the Irmo, Chapin, Dutch Fork, Harbison and St. Andrews area since the incident as a precaution, school spokesman Mark Bounds said.