Labrador State School loses sports equipment in arson attack
Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a Gold Coast school that saw sports equipment destroyed – the second blaze to affect the school in just 16 months.
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Police are treating a fire that destroyed sporting equipment at a Gold Coast primary school as suspicious.
Emergency services were called to Labrador State School at about 4pm on Sunday after smoke was seen coming from the vicinity of its hall.
Firefighters traced the source of the fire to sheds at the hall used to store sports equipment. They quickly put out the fire, saving the main building from any serious damage, however much of the equipment was lost.
Acting Superintendent Mark Mooney from Gold Coast police said it was believed the fire was deliberately lit.
“There’s no reason for the fire to occur otherwise,” he said. “We believe it was deliberately lit. How it occurred is still unknown, investigations are still ongoing.
“ … The shed was in school grounds and it contained their sporting equipment.
Significant damage was caused to the equipment.”
Acting Supt Mooney said the area where the fire was lit was not covered by CCTV cameras and was not visible to witnesses.
In an update on social media Bonney MP Sam O’Connor said the school’s principal had been told the fire appeared to be arson.
“Principal Steve Josey gave me a call on his drive home from inspecting the damage and talking with the police and firies,” he said.
“The fire took out the small sheds at the back of the school hall but the firies stopped it before it could go any further. Unfortunately some of the sandpit and sports equipment was lost.
“The police and firies told Mr Josey that it looks like arson.”
Mr O’Connor praised the actions of locals who were quick to call emergency services, saying the had prevented “further damage” which would have “massively disrupted” the school.
It’s the second time in just over a year that fire has affected Labrador State School.
During Easter school holidays in April 2023 fire ripped through a two-storey block at the school, causing significant damage to classrooms. A faulty water pump was blamed for that blaze.
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