THE Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) believed that an arsonist was behind the fire incident that razed a two-classroom building in a public school east of Zamboanga City.

The ZCFD reported that the fire broke out around 7:20 a.m. Thursday, January 2, in Tindalo Elementary School situated in Vitali Village, 83.99 kilometers east of this city.

Senior Inspector Douglas Zabala, deputy city fire marshal, said they strongly believed as well as based on the testimony of a witness that the school building was intentionally set ablaze.

Zabala said the fire could not have been caused by faulty electrical wiring since the Tindalo Elementary School has no electricity.

He said a witness told their arson investigator that the fire started from the ceiling of the school building and the arsonist could have used dried coconut leaves to set ablaze the structure.

The damaged school building houses the Grade 5 classroom and the office of the head teacher, Zabala said.

He added that the estimated worth of properties damaged by fire is P500,000. The fire was contained around 8:38 a.m. Thursday.

The fire marshal said investigation continues in a bid to unmask the suspect behind the fire incident. (SunStar Zamboanga)