It took firefighters about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.By Kelly Yates
A TEENAGER has been charged with arson following a fire at Kambrya College in Berwick this week which is believed to have caused up to $1 million damage.
Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives executed two search warrants on Tuesday afternoon and charged the 15-year-old girl with criminal damage causing fire.
Berwick Fire Brigade Captain Alan Boyd said the CFA’s dispatch centre received numerous calls just before 9.45pm on Monday.
He said the first firefighters to arrive on scene were confronted with a “massive” fire burning some portable classrooms.
Firefighters “aggressively” fought to stop the fire spreading further along the two rows of buildings.
“A large LPG bullet cylinder alongside the buildings posed a threat to crews and was cooled during the firefighting operations,” he said. “The wing of the school was used as science laboratories and fire crews had fears that a lethal concoction of chemicals could pose dangers to crews.”
Resident Brett Wakeman said from what he could see, the flames were leaping out and over the roofline.
“The old portable style buildings were engulfed. All the windows were gone,” he said.
Kambrya College principal Michael Muscat said by the time he got to school on Monday night, the buildings were “really catching on.”
“The fire was in full flight and I thought it was going to cause a lot of damage,” he said. “But it didn’t turn out that way. The firefighters got there quickly and contained it.”
It took firefighters about 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control.
Specialist hazardous materials units were also called to monitor the area for any toxic fallout. Police were called and secured the area at the school overnight.
Mr Muscat confirmed that two portable science rooms were completely destroyed in the fire.He said classes at the school ran as scheduled the following day. “It was a blessing no-one was hurt. The department, staff and students have been fantastic,” he said.
This is the second major fire at the college. A fire destroyed a locker room and caused extensive damage back in October 2008. “I know we can come out of it,” Mr Muscat said.
“While it’s upsetting, I know we’ll pull together, support one another and get it fixed as fast as possible.”
Two 12-year-old boys were also arrested and interviewed in relation to the fire but were not charged.
The girl has been bailed to appear at the Children’s Court on 9 July.
