There is now new information coming to the fore about what could have caused a massive inferno which ravaged the Christ Church Secondary School. A source told the Guyana Standard that an arsonist is being sought by the police.
The source said that an official investigation was launched by the Guyana Police Force yesterday after the Guyana Fire Service completed its preliminary investigation into the matter.
The source further noted that based on evidence gathered at the scene, including surveillance cameras, a male figure was seen leaving the building just moments before smoke was seen billowing from the roof of the wooden structure.
That suspect is now being sought by police.
However, in a statement last evening, the fire service said, “taking into consideration the time of day that both fires occurred (16:29 p.m. and 17:22 p.m.), coupled with the fact that the second fire had several points of origin (seats), it is the determination of the Guyana Fire Service that the fire was maliciously set by a person or persons unknown.”
The Fire Prevention Department said it began its investigation immediately after the fire and factored several findings. It said that on the evening of the previous fire at Christ Church Secondary, which was ruled the result of a chemical reaction combustion, all chemicals were removed from the building.
“As such, there were no chemicals in the building at the time of the second fire, which rules out the possibility that it was another chemical reaction,” the Fire Service said.
Furthermore, the department said that on the day after the first fire at the school, Christ Church Secondary was inspected and certified by the Government Electrical Inspectorate, which rules out the possibility of the second fire being electrical in origin.
Meanwhile, the fire service said fire trucks from the Central, Alberttown, West Ruimveldt, and Campbellville fire stations were immediately dispatched to the location.
It noted that upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke emanating from the two-storey wooden and concrete structure, and while getting into action, the building quickly became engulfed in flames.
“Despite firefighting efforts, more than eighty percent (80%) of the building and its contents were destroyed, with the remainder suffering severe damage. Additionally, three buildings in close proximity to the school were affected by the inferno and suffered damage to several AC units, PVC guttering, ceilings, windows, and curtains,” the fire service said.
