School devastated by arson attack
The damage bill from an arson attack at a high school north of Adelaide could top $1million.
Four classrooms were destroyed at Balaklava High School, leaving student, parents and teachers devastated.
The alarm was raised at about 2.30am when a math block, which was to be demolished, became an inferno.
Heat from the fire also ignited the drama block next door.
“The flames could be seen 15 kilometres out of Balaklava,” Andrew Outram from the Country Fire Service said.
Year 12 student Cody Robertson was one of the volunteer firefighters who desperately tried to save the school.
“That was basically the school’s drama room, lot of valuable equipment, lot of school work and valuable equipment was destroyed as well,” he said.
“I’m very angry that some low-life has decided to do this.”
About 150 students will be affected by the blaze.
The school’s principal Mark Healy said the attack has left the school community devastated.
“I just don’t understand the mentality of people who would do this,” he said.
About 20 minutes before the school was torched, another suspicious blaze was started in a pile of wood in the back of the nearby scout hall.
Police are looking for a vehicle that was seen leaving the area when the fires started.
