More than 110 students of Batirilagi District School in Seaqaqa, Macuata, were not able to have classes yesterday after a fire destroyed four classrooms in the school on Tuesday afternoon.

School manager Solomone Senikuraciri said the school management was working quickly with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces engineers on a temporary facility.

This was after the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, took time off his busy campaign schedule in the North to visit the school on Wednesday.

“The whole community thanks the PM for taking time out from his busy schedule to visit the school and promising he will do his best to help us,” Mr Senikuraciri said.

“At the moment the military have unloaded materials for the temporary shed.

“The engineers will come tomorrow (today) to construct a temporary building for the students.

“At the moment there are no classes; it will resume next week on Monday after the temporary shed is built,” Mr Senikuraciri said.

The fire on Tuesday had destroyed four classrooms, the library, the office and the staffroom.

Mr Senikuraciri, who had just returned from the school, said he saw smoke coming out of the building and immediately ran back to the school.

“So I ran towards the school and shouted “Fire, Fire” at the top of my voice.

“They heard me and ran out but we could not do anything because there was too much smoke,” Mr Senikuraciri said.

The school’s head teacher Bulou Tamanilolo said they could only save a photocopier, the generator and A4 papers.

The school manager personally thanked the Prime Minister for visiting the school at this time of crisis.

“My plea to all Batirilagi old scholars living in Suva and overseas to please help; any assistance will be greatly appreciated at this time of crisis,” he said.

Meanwhile National Fire Authority chief executive officer John O’Connor said their investigations were continuing.

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