Fire at college investigated

Police and fire safety officers are investigating a burglary and suspicious fire at Ashburton College this morning.

Three fire crews were called to the college about 5.15am after being alerted by an alarm-monitoring company.

A Fire Service spokesman in Christchurch said a suspicious fire was found in the principal's suite.

Ashburton College principal Digby Prosser said the fire had started in the deputy principal's office, where it appeared some property had been stolen.

"It appears that a window has been broken," he said.

"The exterior wall has been badly damaged and fire has worked into the ceiling of the room. There's quite a bit of black soot hanging over everything."

However, Mr Prosser said none of the filing cabinets had been damaged and it was likely that school records would be recoverable.

Police were investigating the apparent break-in.

"Part of it seems to be a burglary," Mr Prosser said. "Whether it was a burglary that became a fire-lighting exercise or a fire-lighting exercise that became a burglary, we can't tell."

There would be no disruption to lessons at the college today.

- NZPA