A fiery lesson

By Casey Neill
Police are appealing for witnesses to a suspicious fire at the senior campus in Reay Road, Mooroolbark about 9.15pm on Monday 5 July.
Investigators would particularly like to hear from an off-road motorcycle rider heard in the area about an hour before the blaze.
It took 10 fire crews almost four hours to extinguish the flames, which destroyed two portables and smoke-damaged others at a cost of about $300,000.
Mount Evelyn residents and Pembroke Year 12 students Elise Clarke and Kate Horner, both 17, watched word of the fire flood Facebook on Monday night.
“Somebody said the whole school had burnt to the ground,” Elise said.
Fears they would have to complete their VCE elsewhere were soon allayed, but the girls remained angry and disappointed someone would set fire to their school.
“It was actually really shocking,” Elise said.
College principal Aidan Ryan said the fire was a sad occurrence for the school and its community.
“No-one likes it when someone is destructive to something you hold close to your heart,” he said.
Mr Ryan said it was fortunate the “senseless act” occurred in an area of the senior campus being prepared for demolition, so would not affect the school program.
He urged anyone with any information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
“Unless we have people willing to come forward with information in incidents such as these, the community can never be fully safe,” he said.
School fires have caused more than $6 million damage in the past month.
An Education Department spokesman encouraged people to visit schools over the term breaks and keep an eye out for unusual activity.
“Schools are public places, so if you’re taking the dog for a walk or heading out to kick the footy, walk to your nearby school,” he said.
The department’s Emergency and Security Management Unit checks on high-risk schools during the holidays, and about 95 per cent of government schools have alarms that trigger police attendance.
The department is also developing new fire resources for students looking at the dangers and consequences of lighting fires.
“Students who think it’s cool to start a fire at school so they can have a few extra days off should be aware of the lifelong consequences that criminal behaviour can result in,” he said.