A FIRE razed to ground at least four classrooms in Bahay Pare Elementary School in the town of Candaba, Pampanga Sunday.
Arson investigators initially placed the amount of damage to properties to be at least P2.2 million.
According to reports, the fire was caused by unattended bonfire at the back of the said school building set up by unidentified persons.
However, in an interview with some students, they have refuted the findings of the arson investigators.
"May naiwanang nakasaksak na electric fan noong nakaraang Christmas party at ito ang posibling pinagmulan ng sunog," one of the students said.
During the blaze local authorities have immediately coordinated with neighboring fire stations.
Among those who responded were the fire trucks from San Luis town in Pampanga and Baliuag in Bulacan.
As this developed, more than 100 students are expected to conduct their classes under the tree just to keep abreast with the scheduled lessons this January.
"Alam naming malapit ang puso ng mahal Pangulo sa aming mga mag-aaral, kung kaya nananawagan po kami sa kaniya na sana tulungan po niya kaming ipagawa ang mga nasunog na silid aralan para hindi naman maapektuhan ng aming pag-aaral," a student here said.