Police have suspect for school arson, says fire chief

The fire at Hamilton's Melville High School early yesterday was definitely arson, a fire safety officer said today.

"The police have a pretty good lead on someone at the moment, and hopefully we'll have a result by today I think," Dave Jenkins said.

The blaze gutted two classrooms and caused smoke damage in six others by the time firefighters arrived.

Mr Jenkins said there had been another fire at the school earlier and that was definitely arson well.

The fire that caused the damage was set inside the building, and Mr Jenkins said there was no sign of forced entry.

Yesterday school principal Clive Hamill said the gutted classrooms housed 60 of the school's computers.

"The worst thing is the destruction of students' work and the vast teaching resources -- all gone," Mr Hamill said.

"I don't know who did this, but it's just such a destructive action really and it's devastating for staff and students, which is really sad."

- NZPA