Fire destroys section of school

It is believed that the fire which destroyed a section of OS Geyersvlijt 1 located along the Barronstraat most likely started as a result of a short circuit. The Public Relations Department at the Police Force Suriname pointed out that the cables were pulled and that this resulted in a short circuit. Investigators believe that copper pipes were taken but it is not clear who took them. The fire on Sunday night reportedly destroyed 4 classrooms, an office, a supply room and several toilets. A security guard told Times of Suriname that he was on duty from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. Around 9:30 p.m. he heard a sound in the back of the school. He also claimed that there was a power failure in the neighborhood. After a while the power came back on in the neighborhood but not at the school. When the security guard’s colleague arrived, they smelled something so they decided to investigate. After they had spotted smoke, they notified the police around 9:35. The colleague went to the house of the janitor to fetch the keys of the office and the supply room. After they had opened the doors, they saw smoke coming from the fuse box. The security guard managed to take a table, telephone and wifi box out of the office. The flames then spread to other rooms. Fire fighters from the Geyersvlijt Fire Station arrived at 9:51 and had the fire under control around 10:07 p.m. Fire Department Spokesman Olton Pinas told Times of Suriname that the left wing of the school was ablaze when fire fighters arrived at the scene. Fire fighters from two other stations also provided assistance.