Heatherwood School: Fire at Donvale special education leaves parents shocked

A man has been arrested over the devastating fire that destroyed five classrooms and a canteen at Heatherwood School in Melbourne’s east.

Police arrested an 18-year-old man over the Heatherwood fire. Picture: David Crosling

A devastating fire that destroyed a kitchen and classrooms at Heatherwood School was allegedly started by a man.

The fire burnt through a trade kitchen, six classrooms and an art area at the Donvale school.

Police arrested an 18-year-old man on Wednesday.

He was seen running from Heatherwood School before several buildings went up in flames about 1.30pm on Saturday.

Firefighters clean-up the scene of the Heatherwood fire. Picture: David Crosling

The popular eastern suburbs special school is the only one like it in the area and the fire will leave at least 200 families without adequate schooling facilities for their children.

It caters for children who have a mild intellectual disability, including some with physical impairments.

It comes as the children are back at school, with some of the classes using the sole remaining junior school building.

The Herald Sun previously reported vulnerable students were being forced to use “disgusting” portaloos amid the school’s builder going into liquidation and leaving their $10m renovations in limbo.

Concerned families said there were incidents of vandalism and break-ins at the muddy, mould-infested building site.

Michelle Payne, a Heatherwood parent and member of the school council, said the school community had been left “devastated” by the fire.

It was the senior school’s only functioning facility because progress has stalled on the school’s new $10m building after the builder went broke.

“There is no other school like this, some of the students are on the bus for an hour and a half each way,” Ms Payne said.

The new Liberal member for Warrandyte, Nicole Werner, has been at the school, and will be lobbying for portable classrooms to get the kids back to class as soon as possible.

Ms Werner said on Sunday she was calling on the state government to relocate these families. “They need a place to go to school and I was speaking with one of the mothers this morning who said if she doesn’t work then her family doesn’t get an income,” she said.

Police are investigating a fire at a Donvale special education school. Picture: David Crosling

A Department of Education spokesman said the school reopened today.

“The fire has made a part of the school unusable for now, but students can return thanks to the extraordinary work of school staff, with support from nearby schools and department staff,” he said.

“We’ve been communicating with parents about what the fire has meant for their children and to ensure they are aware support is available to the school community.

“We’ll continue to work with the school on how we can improve their immediate situation as well as what the fire means for longer term building plans.”

Support is being made available for staff and students and security guards are patrolling the site.

A Department of Education spokesman said the school reopened today.

“The fire has made a part of the school unusable for now, but students can return thanks to the extraordinary work of school staff, with support from nearby schools and department staff,” he said.

“We’ve been communicating with parents about what the fire has meant for their children and to ensure they are aware support is available to the school community.

“We’ll continue to work with the school on how we can improve their immediate situation as well as what the fire means for longer term building plans.”

Support is being made available for staff and students and security guards are patrolling the site.