Melbourne school fire: Fire at Heatherwood School causes devastating damage as police search for man who flees the scene
- Five classrooms and canteen went up in flames
- Man seen fleeing Heatherwood School during fire
- Community that already brings together a destroyed school
Terrifying footage has emerged of the devastating moment a fire swept through a school in eastern Melbourne as police launched a manhunt for the alleged arsonist.
Investigators from Victoria Police said at around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday that an unidentified man attended Heatherwood School in Donvale in the city’s eastern suburbs.
Minutes later, the northwest corner of the building was set on fire from the inside, with the man making his last exit from the school and fleeing on foot along Springvale Rd.
Fire Rescue Victoria quickly dispatched 11 fire trucks, staffed with 44 firefighters, to fight the blaze.
Terrifying footage has emerged of the moment a fire destroyed a school in eastern Melbourne
Five classrooms and the school cafeteria were destroyed.
Footage posted by Fire Rescue Victoria shows a school building engulfed in flames as black smoke billows out.
A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said the blaze was brought under control by firefighters within an hour, alerting the community to smoke in the area.
“Ambulance Victoria is on scene to support firefighters, but there are no injuries,” said a spokesman.
“The building has suffered a significant roof collapse. The cause of the fire is considered suspicious.
“FRV teams will remain on site for some time to further extinguish the fire.”
Police have launched a manhunt for a man who entered the school just before the fire
A crime scene has been set up as detectives work to determine the exact circumstances and cause of the fire.
Police have enlisted the public’s help in locating or identifying the man, who is described as white, 6′ 10″ tall, thinly built, dark haired and in his 30s.
Police said the man was wearing a black hooded top, a black and white paisley bandana that covered his face and may have been carrying a black Nike backpack.
Liberal MP Keith Wolahan took to social media on Saturday to express his “deepest condolences” to the Heatherwood School community following the fire.
Thank you to the emergency services who are doing everything they can to get the fire under control. We will be here to help you heal and rebuild,” he wrote.
Anyone who witnessed the fire or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
At Heatherwood School, five classrooms and the school cafeteria were destroyed, despite the desperate efforts of firefighters