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A 12-year-old boy has admitted setting fire to a West Auckland school and lighting several other fires in the area.
Three classrooms at Rangeview Intermediate School in Henderson went up in flames yesterday morning causing between $350,000 and $500,000 worth of damage.
The fire was the third at the school and Rangeview board of trustees chairman Derek van Beynen said Freyberg Community School was also attacked recently.
The spate of fires had sparked fears an arsonist was working in the area.
Detective Sergeant Murray Free of Waitakere CIB said this afternoon police had spoken to a 12-year-old boy who had admitted responsibility for the Rangeview arson.
"He has also admitted lighting several other fires in the Te Atatu South area in recent weeks," Mr Free said.
The boy, who was not a Rangeview pupil, would be dealt with by the police youth aid section.
The school was open as usual today, but about 90 of 930 students were in temporary classes.
Some of the pressure would be relieved by students being away at a school camp.
- NZPA
