Two fires investigated

Press, 26 September 1988, Page 3

Two fires investigated

By

NEIL CLARKSON

Curtains were deliberately set alight in the library at the Addington Catholic Primary School late on Saturday night. Detective Sergeant Kieran Kortegast, of the Christchurch C. 1.8., said the fire caused extensive charring to an interior wall and also damaged some of the ceiling lining. There was no structural damage. The blaze was noticed about 11.20 p.m. by a person attending a function near the school in Spencer Street. The Fire Service managed to keep smoke and water damage to a minimum. Detective Sergeant Kor-

tegast said the arsonist punched a hole through glass in a door to gain entry. The library is a weatherboard building at the back of the school. The fire was the second week-end arson in Christchurch.

A wooden house at Windoware Products, Ltd, in Disraeli Street, Sydenham, was set alight early on Saturday morning. The blaze was noticed about 12.40 a.m. by a passing taxi-driver. Detective Sergeant Kortegast said wooden pallets had been stacked by the arsonist against the rear of the house, which is used for storage by the firm. The fire caused exten-

sive damage to the rear of the house. Stock was also damaged, including curtaining tape, curtaining material and packaging material. An estimate of the damage was not available. The police believe the fire may be linked to a number of other arsons in the Sydenham and Addington area in recent months. The police want to speak to the occupants of two cars seen driving along Disraeli Street about the time of the fire. One was a white Ford Falcon station waggon, the other a pale Morris 1100 or 1300. Detective Sergeant Kortegast said the occupants may be useful witnesses.