The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) yesterday said that preliminary investigations of the blaze which damaged the North West Secon-dary School, Mabaruma on September 24 revealed that it was an arson attack.
In a statement yesterday, the GFS said that on the day of the incident at around 9.20 pm a security guard attached to the Region One school report-ed hearing three explosions and seeing smoke and fire emanating from the direction of the Head Teacher’s Office.
The statement added that auxiliary firefighters in the area and other officials along with public-spirited residents responded to the scene and managed to contain the blaze to one section of the school. This prevented the fire from spreading to the Dormitories, Information Technology Department and other nearby buildings. The building that was engulfed was gutted.
The statement further said that though there is a new fire station in the community, it is tempora-rily being used as a Covid-19 Quarantine Centre. Fur-nishings and equipment, inclusive of a water tender, are scheduled to be in place for late October. It was noted that on Saturday last, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; Fire Chief, Kalamadeen Edoo; Regional Executive Officer, Tikaram Bissessar; Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley; Head-teacher (ag), Indra Chacon; Commander Boodnarine Persaud and fire investiga-tors visited the school and examined the damage wrought by the fire.
