A childcare centre was badly damaged and a primary school classroom gutted in two of several fires blamed on fireworks on the North Shore at the weekend.
The fire at Kindy Cottage Childcare, on Graham Collins Drive in Windsor Park, started after fireworks landed on the building's roof about 8pm last
night.
Senior Station Officer Mike McEnaney said the fireworks were let off in a small reserve next to the centre. "They've rolled down [the roof] and into the gutter and set the roof area on fire," he said.
The ceiling of the building was also burned and the interior suffered water and smoke damage.
The group who lit the fireworks alerted the Fire Service to the blaze.
Mr McEnaney said people needed to think about where fireworks could land, even if they were letting them off in open spaces.
The three-year-old childcare centre will be closed today.
Owner Janice Haldane said fireworks should be banned. "Due to some teenagers playing with fireworks they have now inconvenienced dozens and dozens of parents."
Firefighters say a blaze that gutted a classroom at Torbay School on Saturday night was probably caused by fireworks.
Three fire engines were called about 11.45am after two girls at a bus-stop saw the classroom on fire.
East Coast Bays Station Officer Terry Hewitt said the fire took 15 minutes to bring under control, but flames leaped to a nearby building and damaged another classroom.
Fire investigator Neville Trevarton said evidence collected from round the school suggested that young people had been playing with fireworks. Firework smoke had also been seen coming from the school grounds shortly before the fire.
One staff member said the classroom was used by new-entrant pupils. All their art work had been destroyed "for no reason".
The school will open for all classes today.North Shore firefighters also attended several small fires started by fireworks last night.
- STAFF REPORTERS
