weekender the western
Printed on 100% recycled paper
FRI 4 JUL 2014 • Issue 1160
Angus returns home
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
Business Advice, tips and profiles on the best local businesses p.30-31
St Clair High burns
Department to rush demountable classrooms onto damaged school site KATHERINE TWEED
Basketball star’s next challenge p.36
Courthouse complete p.5
Don’t let shops die Shopping strip at Colyton needs help p.13
@ktweed_
P
olice still won’t speculate on whether a massive fire at St Clair High School last weekend was deliberately lit. Emergency services were called to the Endeavour Avenue school at about 1.30am on Sunday to find a building almost in the centre of the school well alight. ‘E-Block’, along with its classrooms, library, canteen, computer laboratories and other rooms, was completely destroyed in the blaze that took 25 fire and rescue appliances to contain. The fire was so hot that it contorted the roof of the block, which collapsed over the library, as well as fans, desks, windows and supports; rendering the building unsafe for anyone to enter. When the Weekender visited the school on Monday, the building was still smouldering in places. “We have not been able to enter the building and process the site as it is structurally unsound. You can see that every type of pillar or support is either cracked or leaning and we won’t be sending anyone in until we are sure it is safe,” said St Marys Police Detective, Phil Ranson. “Until then, we are unable to speculate on whether the fire was deliberately lit or simply an accident.” It is hoped that the school will be able to operate from the first day of next term. “This will be achieved by moving demountables onto the school site – just over 20 demountable classrooms, plus demountable buildings for a library, canteen, staff room and toilets,” a Department of Education Spokesperson said.
Some of the damage caused by a fire at St Clair High School. Photo: Melinda Jane
Lic No. 102962C
WW10366
ph: 4721 1500 f: 4721 1577 www.rositanokitchens.com.au
WW10537