Postedat 10:05 a.m., Thursday, June 21, 2001

Another Wai'anae school hit by arson

By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A fire was deliberately set at a Wai'anae Coast school last night, the fifth such fire in less than a month.

A portable classroom at Wai'anae Intermediate School caught fire when someone piled recently cut grass against the structure and lit it, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

The fire department sent out one engine to the 8:01 p.m. alarm, and extinguished the small flame at 8:03 p.m. Damage to the building was estimaged at $200.

"This is a problem that has now involved all public schools in the Wai'anae area," Soo said. "And, it affects the whole community."

At least four fires were intentionally set May 24-28 at Wai'anae High and Elementary School, according to the fire department.

In one of those fires, on May 28, a portable classroom at Wai'anae High was set on fire, causing about $40,000 damage to the building and $1,000 to the contents.

"The publicity died down, and then this happened," said Capt. Francis Nishimura of the Wai'anae Fire Station. "So, these people are really set in what they want to do when they start these fires."

The fire department said it continues to investigate but has no suspects.

"The only way this is going to be stopped is to get the eyes and ears of the community," Soo said. "We rely on the community to at least notify 911 as soon as they see something suspicious, like people on school grounds for no apparent reason."