A GOLD Coast Catholic school community is counting its blessings recently after a quick response by firefighters saved the contents of the school’s arts and graphic design building.
Principal of St Michael’s College, Carrara, Michael Laidler said the August 14 blaze destroyed about 40 student lockers, a walkway and an airconditioning system before being put out.
“We are very lucky. It nearly got into the roof but firemen were able to curb it beforehand so we have saved a room full of computers,” Mr Laidler said.
He said the fire did however cause structural damage to the outside brick wall of the building and students would not be allowed to return to that part of the school until the end of the term.
Mr Laidler said a number of students from Year 8 to Year 12 lost vital work when the fire engulfed the lockers.
“As you can see through the ashes there are a lot of books that obviously have been burnt, and a lot of personal stuff I would imagine has also been lost,” he said.
“The kids get really upset with things like this. They don’t like their property being touched and it’s certainly upsetting for them.”
Mr Laidler said police and fire officials were investigating the incident, following leads and studying college closed-circuit television foot-age.
“It looks like a malicious incident,” he said.
“We’ve been very lucky through the years; we haven’t had much of that and certainly it’s upsetting for us that this would happen.”
