MYSTERIOUS FIRE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 51, 23 November 1929, Page 13

MYSTERIOUS FIRE

OUTBREAK IN SCHOOL DISCOVERED IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, November 22. Damage amounting to £2OO was clone by a fire which broke out in a mysterious fashion in the nmnual training block at the Sydenham School shortly after 2 o’clock this morning. The fire, which originated on a landing outside the domestic Science room, was first noticed about 2.30 a.m. by a police patrolman, who saw the glare through a window. He gave the alarm and then broke into the school. It was blazing fiercely. The firemen, who arrived a few 1 minutes afterwards, had a difficult fight, but managed to confine the fire to the landing. Considerable damage had, however, been done. The floor, walls, and roof of the landing were badly burnt, as were some cupboards on it. The fire bad penetrated to the women teachers’ office, and books and uniforms belonging to the teachers were damaged by beat and water. A piece of blazing timber falling over the bannisters had started a small fire in a cupboard below, wnere woodwork articles were stored. It is not known bow the fire originated. The caretaker finished cleaning at 5 p.m. yesterday, and then locked up the block. There was nothing of an inflammable nature on the landing, and neither gas nor electric light was laid on. The cupboards contained only brooms aud cleaning materials. Although there is no direct evidence. would appear that the fire was deliberately started. All doors and windows opening on the street and yard were locked, but there is a way by which at. agile person could have gained an entrance to the building. The manual training department is a recent addition. The building is covered in the Education Department’s general policy and the teachers have a £5O cover on their personal belongings.