THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605280204
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 87 lines
An arson fire on Saturday took Windsor Oaks Elementary School's remaining portable classroom.
Two other units were destroyed May 12 in a fire that also was ruled arson.
Saturday's early-morning fire was the fourth time since September that arsonists have targeted Virginia Beach schools.
Firefighters were sent to the school at 2:54 a.m. and extinguished the fire by about 4:15, Fire Capt. Murrey Loflin said.
``It's a total loss,'' he said.
The fire caused about $50,000 damage.
Like the fire before, Saturday's did not extend to the main building of the school, which is near Mount Trashmore. The classroom was used to house special education classes, said school officials. The two other portables housed a music classroom and another special education classroom.
Burnt insulation, melted plastic toys, charred sheet music and crumpled folding chairs littered the remains. Cars and minivans carrying teachers and parents made a steady trip to the rear parking lot of Windsor Oaks Elementary to survey the damage.
``It's really tough,'' Loflin said. ``We're trying to do the best we can. We're really hoping the community can help us out. We're all part of this community. It's upsetting.''
The fire is still under investigation.
On Sept. 1, the main building at Princess Anne High School on Virginia Beach Boulevard was destroyed by fire.
The blaze swept through 29 classrooms, the library and the cafeteria before firefighters brought it under control. Water and smoke damage extended into other parts of the school, including the auditorium.
Repairs are still under way. About 2,500 of the school's 2,900 students have been taking classes in Celebration Station, a defunct shopping mall two miles east of the school.
Other students are taking classes in portable and undamaged classrooms at the high school.
Investigators have yet to charge anybody with setting that fire, which caused more than $7 million damage.
A fire on April 2 at First Colonial High School caused minor damage to a locker room.
Fire officials are still investigating all of the fires. As for any similarities, Loflin said, there is ``nothing that we can put together now. There are no direct similarities - yet.''
Windsor Oaks Elementary School officials wrote ``a quick letter'' and got together with the PTA and parent volunteers in the neighborhood Saturday to distribute a leaflet to surrounding homes seeking information, Windsor Oaks Elementary Principal John A. Mirra said.
On Monday, school officials plan to send a flier to parents.
``We're really going to work hard at trying to work jointly with fire investigators,'' said Mirra. ``I'm sure by the reactions we've seen . . . that the community is as upset about this as we are. By joining forces together, maybe we'll come up with something investigators can use.''
Fire investigators and school officials are asking the public for help. Anyone with information about the Windsor Oaks Elementary School fire or any other fire can call the fire investigation office at 427-4228 or Crime Solvers at 427-0000.
A few hundred yards from the melted remains of the classroom, 8-year-old Abigail Smith, a third-grader at Windsor Oaks, was playing softball with friends and looking forlorn when asked for her thoughts on the charred remains.
``It's sad,'' she said. ``And I feel sad.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
JOHN C. BELL
The fire early Saturday caused $50,000 in damage, destroying a
special education classroom.
Photo
JOHN C. BELL
Little was left early Saturday of a portable classroom at Windsor
Oaks. School officials distributed fliers to nearby homes, seeking
information, and plan to send one to parents Monday.
Graphic
IF YOU HAVE INFO
Anyone with details about the Windsor Oaks Elementary School fire
or any other fire can call the fire investigation office at 427-4228
or Crime Solvers at 427-0000.
KEYWORDS: ARSON FIRES WINDSOR OAKS ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL by CNB