Arsonist tries to burn two schools

NZ Police

Burnt out: A classroom at Pukeatua Primary School in Wainuiomata was gutted but an attempt to burn a second school failed.

A suspected arsonist who gutted a Lower Hutt classroom appears to have tried to light a fire at a second school later that same day, police say.

Three fire crews were called to Pukeatua Primary School in Wainuiomata about 4pm on Saturday to find the classroom well alight.

Firefighters fought the fire for 40 minutes and were able to bring it under control before it spread to other areas of the school.

Acting school principal Jenni Adam said children's art work, teaching materials and "pretty much everything that's in that room" had been destroyed by smoke, water or fire damage.

The Education Ministry was working with the school to try to ensure there were enough classrooms before school started for the year. The school had employed security officers to guard the premises.

Detective Sergeant Scott Cooper of Lower Hutt said it appeared the fire was started on a deck outside the building.

Police and fire investigators believe it was deliberately lit.

Later that day, a member of the public reported seeing smoke at a fire at St Claudine Thevenet School, also in Wainuiomata.

It appeared someone had tried to start a fire, but it failed to catch.

Anyone who saw any suspicious activity around those schools on Saturday is asked to contact police.

- © Fairfax NZ News