School blaze deemed suspicious in Hamilton

Firefighters arrived at the Hamilton East School blaze just before 7am to find the outside of the dental unit and the school hall on fire. Photo / Supplied

One of Hamilton's oldest schools says it will be business as usual for students tomorrow, despite a suspicious blaze damaging two of its buildings today.

The Fire Service was called to Hamilton East School just before 7am to find the school hall and the dental unit on fire.

It is the second suspicious blaze at the school in a matter of years - in 2009, two classrooms were gutted and others were seriously damaged in a suspected arson attack.

Flames were just starting to creep inside the buildings when firefighting crews arrived this morning, Waikato Fire Service area commander Roy Breeze said.

The two fires were lit separately and were being treated as suspicious, he said.

"There's external damage, a reasonable amount, to both buildings and some smoke and heat damage internally," Mr Breeze said.

"[We're] definitely treating it as suspicious because there's two completely separate fires. We're working with the police right now to look at what we can do about it, investigation-wise."

The buildings were 10m apart.

The Hamilton East School board notified parents and students about the damaging blaze on Facebook today.

No classrooms were affected and the school would be open tomorrow, with a decision still to be made about after school care.

The board said the Fire Service and police had been "amazing" in their handling of the situation.

"There is damage but it is not too extensive," it said.

"I am sure all the school community will pull together during this time."

The school, which opened in 1872, is the oldest on its original site in Hamilton.

- NZME