A firefighter walking past the destroyed classrooms at Paraparaumu School. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A firefighter walking past the destroyed classrooms at Paraparaumu School. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Three youths have been apprehended by police after a blaze gutted a a Kapiti school classroom block last night.
Four classrooms and a library were gutted in the fire at Paraparaumu School on Ruapehu St, Paraparaumu, which broke out about 7.15pm yesterday.
The cause of the fire was being treated as suspicious.
"The fire started around 7.15pm last night and caused extensively damaged one of the school blocks," said Detective Inspector George Faalogo of Kapiti Mana CIB.
The three young people will appear at Porirua Youth Court. A date is yet to be confirmed.
Fire and police investigators conducted a scene examination at the school today.
The school was closed and the Ministry of Education was working with it to reopen as soon as possible.
"A neighbouring school has offered temporary teaching spaces and we will be supporting the board to clean smoke-damaged classrooms so they will be ready for use by the end of the week," said ministry head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey.
Mr Faalogo said the school will be closed for the rest of the week with classes to resume next week.
"While one of the buildings was destroyed, outer buildings are still intact which will enable the school and its teachers to welcome students back next Monday," he said.
Parents were optimistic about the school's ability to bounce back.
"If any school can come back from this it will be our school. We have amazing community spirit," said parent Shelley Harris.
A firefighter walking past the destroyed classrooms at Paraparaumu Primary School. Photo / Mark Mitchell
He thanked the school community for their help in getting a "quick resolution in this case".
"We are very grateful."
Paraparaumu School principal Steven Caldwell told TV One's Breakfast this morning his main concern was the children.
"My main concern is the children, making sure they know that Paraparaumu School will be open as soon as we can get it open and that they will be able to come back to school.
"It's going to be really hard on those kids, they've lost their classrooms."
The school was closed today, and would remain closed until further notice.
Mr Caldwell told the programme the school had lost four junior blocks and a library completely, and other classrooms had cracked windows from heat exposure and smoke damage.
The fire had also impacted on plans for a 125 year celebration later in the year, he said.
All of the archival photos were lost in the fire.
"We had folders and folders of photos in the library, going back 125 years, it is the oldest school on the Kapiti Coast.
"It's a pretty iconic school on the coast and it is devastating."
Police will also continue other inquiries as part of the wider investigation.
