Baptism of fire

More than 200 students had their belongings destroyed when a deliberately lit fire ripped through Kambrya College. Picture: Meagan Rogers

By Callan Date
KAMBRYA College principal Michael Muscat has landed well and truly in the hot seat.
After only one day in the top job, Mr Muscat has had to deal with the fall out from a fire which engulfed a section of the Berwick school early on Tuesday morning.
More than 200 Year 10 and 11 students had their school supplies and personal items destroyed in the blaze, which ripped through a section of the senior locker area.
Police have confirmed the fire, which caused more than $20,000 damage, was deliberately lit.
None of the students’ items are covered under the Department of Education’s insurance policy, Mr Muscat said.
The deliberate nature of the blaze has only further angered students and staff at the tight knit college on Bemersyde Drive.
“They (students) are very keen to find out who is responsible,” Mr Muscat said.
“They are not too impressed by this sort of behaviour at all.”
Mr Muscat, who took over as principal from Ian McKenzie, said the school was doing everything it could to help out the affected students.
“On the one hand you feel very saddened by this callous destruction, but on the other hand it is just fantastic to see the way people pull together,” Mr Musact said.
“The camaraderie that comes with problems like this is inspiring. The spirit at the school is alive and well.”
He said one of his first jobs as principal was to call an emergency assembly for affected students.
“We told the students that the school will be very sympathetic and caring.”
Classes operated as normal after the burnt out area was fenced off on Tuesday.
An arson chemist and fire investigator examined the scene on Tuesday in a bid to identify the cause.
Berwick CFA captain Alan Boyd said firefighters used a saw to cut through two roller doors to help get access to the heart of the blaze.
He said crews spent more than three hours on scene making sure the fire was fully extinguished.
“The structure was well alight and crews wearing breathing apparatus battled the thick smoke and flames to bring the fire under control,” Capt Boyd said.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.