By Shivana Lal
Copyright trinidadexpress
STUDENTS at St Benedict’s College in La Romaine yesterday had to be evacuated after a fire caused damage to the school’s drama room and the auditorium.
Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer (South) Mukharji Rampersad said the preliminary investigation pointed to the cause of the blaze as “non-accidental”. He added that a thorough investigation was under way to identify the cause. There were no casualties.
Around 12.20 p.m., students reported seeing “big flames” in the auditorium at the back of the school compound.
Guided by staff, the students were evacuated to the muster point at the La Romaine RC Church, where they were picked up by concerned parents and guardians.
The Express was told the response from the Fire Service was swift.
Speaking to members of the media, Rampersad confirmed the blaze was extinguished.
“There were no casualties. The supplies or the resources needed to treat with this fire were adequate at this time,” he said.
The Fire Prevention Department, he added, was on the scene conducting “a more robust investigation”.
However, he said the preliminary investigation indicated the fire was deliberately set.
“It is too early to pronounce. However, our observation at this point may be trending to non-accidental. Just the preliminary investigation to be non-accidental. But until we have a thorough investigation, we’ll be able to come to a more definitive cause,” he continued.
He said while there was no damage to the superstructure of the building, the drama classroom and auditorium, which share an area, were destroyed by the blaze.
Jennifer Cobb of La Brea, who picked up her Form Two grandson, said she received a call that there was a fire at the school and was told to pick up her grandson.
Savitree Abdool, parent of a Form One student, was at her Church Street home cooking when she was informed of the blaze.
“I just ran out. I drop everything and I run out. When I got to the school, one of the teachers said they don’t know what went on, but other people are saying stuff but you really don’t know what is going on,” she said.
“It is scary. I heard all the ambulance and the fire brigade. The thought that you send your child to school and you don’t know what could happen in the spur of a moment,” she added.
Rampersad called on citizens to take a more proactive stance in fire safety.
“Fire safety is everybody’s business…Fire Prevention Week starts in October. During that week, we highlight certain areas of concern,” he said.
This year, he said the theme focuses on lithium batteries, he added.
Noting there was a global increase in fires caused by lithium batteries, he said fire officers would be advising citizens on how to purchase, store and dispose of these.
Public safety regarding fires, he said, also relied on good fire detection and suppression systems.
He added while the bush fire season officially begins on December 1, the increasing dry weather required homeowners to start fire prevention earlier.
This, he said, would include cutting fire tracks five feet from parameter fences, the clearing of unwanted clutter around homes, and investing in a fire extinguisher.
