If it wasn't for the quick action of two children, play equipment at Flaxmere Primary School might have gone up in flames in a suspected arson last night. Senior students had designed the play equipment and used it daily. Two children playing at the school were the first to spot the fireand alerted a school cleaner, who called the Fire Service at 8.10pm. Principal Bev Blake said this morning the children would "obviously be very upset" because they had ownership of the design, by creating it as part of their study. Fire had damaged the plastic climbing-wall section, but had not spread. Nearby ropes were untouched and only a section would have to be replaced. "There's one very small section of our playground that is burnt," Mrs Blake said. "But it could have been our whole playground and that would have been dreadful. "Our playground is open to anyone but we don't want them to abuse it." Hastings Fire Service Senior Station Officer Kerry Harford said it was likely the fire had been deliberately lit because there were "no other ignition forces in the area". The service visits schools, recommending ways to reduce the fire risk, including not having rubbish bins close to buildings.
