By Britney Tabor and Stacey Altherr
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.
An early-morning fire at a Selden elementary school caused extensive damage yesterday, raising the possibility that the building may not open in September.
The blaze was one of two unrelated elementary school fires in Suffolk County within hours of each other, and both are suspected of being arson.
At the Stagecoach Elementary School on Dare Road in Selden, the fire caused the roof to collapse; caused heavy smoke, heat and water damage; and destroyed the gym, according to Selden Fire Department’s First Assistant Chief John Bartnik. “I can’t see them opening in September,” he said.
Det. Sgt. Edward Fitzgerald from the Suffolk County Arson Squad said they are still investigating, but that the Selden fire appears to be arson.
About 40 neighbors and members of the Stagecoach school’s staff congregated in the parking lot, some with their children, to watch as firefighters sprayed water on the roof to cool the building. Yellow crime scene tape blocked the entrance, and blackened ashes and timber could be seen through the front door. Some wiped away tears, some took pictures and others hugged.
Robbye Murphy, a teacher at the school for 19 years, came as soon as she heard about the fire from another teacher.
“It’s just overwhelming,” she said. “It’s not just that our personal things are gone. It’s hard not knowing at this point where we’ll be.”
Firefighters from Coram, Farmingville, Terryville, Centereach, Medford and Holtsville aided the Selden Fire Department, and two firefighters suffered minor injuries, with one sent to the hospital for observation.
The fire started in the main hallway, which, because of summer cleaning, contained all the desks, chairs and cabinets from the classrooms.
“Because of all the wood in that area, it burned like a fireplace,” Bartnik said.
Superintendent Roberta Gerold would not comment on the cause of the fire or whether it will affect the Sept. 6 opening, only saying that the district’s board will meet in a few days to discuss repairs and possible relocation of the more than 400 students. Others at the scene speculated that it will be months before the school will reopen.
Danny Sexton, 10, stood with his mother, Roseanne, to watch firefighters work to save the building that he attended until his graduation last year from fifth grade.
“It just makes me mad how some crazy people would destroy my school,” he said. “These crazy people aren’t thinking about the children that are just starting to learn here.”
About four hours before the Stagecoach fire was called in, Melville Fire Department responded to the other school fire, this time at Sunquam Elementary School on Sweet Hollow Road in Melville. Although the fire was small and firefighters were able to put it out quickly, arson investigators believe the fire was deliberately set to cover up a theft in the building.