Secondary School.

It is the second arson attack this week after the blaze which caused $150,000 worth of damage at the Pembroke Community Club.

After an extensive all day investigation Fire Service investigators determined that the early morning fire at Sandys Secondary School was deliberate.

The fire also caused heat and smoke damage throughout the building in which the staff room was situated.

After receiving a call from a resident five fire trucks and 17 personnel arrived to find the staff room consumed in flames. Within an hour and a half six of the 17 firefighters wearing self contained breathing apparatus extinguished the fire.

All the contents of the staff room were completely destroyed. The Fire Service estimates the loss due to fire at approximately $60,000. Investigating the fire is Lt. Malcolm Johnson of the Bermuda Fire Service, who said there was extensive smoke and heat damage to the corridor outside of the staff room.

Classrooms and bathrooms in the area were covered with black soot and water and walls were also blackened. Fluorescent light fixtures melted off of the ceilings.

Due to the fire, students are getting a few days off until the school is cleaned up.

Yesterday morning around 10.30 a.m. students who would have normally been engrossed in lessons, sat around looking on.

The school's principal Mr. Melvyn Bassett said: "The next step on the agenda is to clean the place up.

"We need to determine when the students will come back to school. I would think a few days. I have no idea how the fire started. I was called at 1.45 a.m.'' Mr. Bassett added that several members of the community have been offering their help.

He added that the staff room would probably not be repaired until after the Christmas holiday.

DESTROYED -- Lt. Malcolm Johnson of the Bermuda Fire Service is seen investigating the remains of the Sandys Secondary School staff room. The cause of the fire was arson.