RGHS fire: Facebook comments part of investigation (+video)

Fire crews at the scene of yesterday's blaze. PHOTO BEN FRASER

Teenagers have taken to Facebook to congratulate a girl who appeared to suggest in a post that she was behind a suspected arson at Rotorua Girls' High School.

Two maths classrooms were destroyed by fire and the rest of H block was damaged by water and smoke after a suspicious blaze in the early hours of yesterday.

A screengrab which appears to be of a Facebook post by a teenage girl reads: "Tonight is the night to burn down Girls High". Asked "did you burn the school?", she replied "Only two classrooms caught!".

The screengrab, and others showing a conversation between the girl and others, were widely circulated on Facebook.

Numerous posts have been made on the girl's profile congratulating her, while others have condemned her.

"Congratulations, seriously I am your biggest fan," wrote one.

"I love you but you should have done the whole school or C block and science block," wrote another.

Other Facebook users have said she was "an idiot" and should expect to face the consequences.

Detective Sergeant Richard Lang of Rotorua police said they were aware of a number of comments made on social media about the fire, but urged the community not to be distracted or influenced by this commentary.

"The social media comments are being assessed as part of the investigation," he said.

"However, it is not the only line of inquiry, and it is extremely important that people are not influenced by the comments to the point where they don't report information they have which might be relevant. We want to hear from anyone who may have information, no matter how insignificant it may seem."

Police also want to hear from any residents in the area who have CCTV systems which may have captured images of use to the investigation.

Police were alerted to the fire by a call from a member of the public about 1.20am.

Image 1 of 6: Fire crews investigate a suspicious fire at a Rotorua Girls High School classroom Photo/Ben Fraser

The Rotorua Fire Brigade found the maths block to be "well involved in fire" said Fire North communications shift manager Paul Madden.

Seven fire trucks, along with further support vehicles from around the region, battled the blaze well into the night.

The school's Board of Trustees chairman Chris Nairn said he received a phone call at 2am from a friend driving home from work who told him his school was on fire.

"This is a good school, the girls will rise above it, part of life is you do get hardships but we will get through this," he said.

Principal Ally Gibbons said she felt sorry for the students, staff and school community.

"It's very sad for those teachers, for all the work they've put in to their learning resources."

The school was open as normal yesterday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotorua police on 07 348 0099 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.