Arson is now suspected as the cause of the fire that destroyed a multi-purpose room at Wilcox Elementary School last week. Kauai fire and police investigators are working on determining the cause of the fire. Investigations said the fire most
Arson is now suspected as the cause of the fire that destroyed a multi-purpose room at Wilcox Elementary School last week.
Kauai fire and police investigators are working on determining the cause of the fire.
Investigations said the fire most likely started from the windows next to the front office that face Hardy Street. A door on the opposite side of the building was also found to be a source of fire.
Items taken from the room are being tested for accelerants or flammable substances.
It cannot be determined whether windows or a door lock were broken beforehand because of the extent of damages, according to police. Rachel Watarai, school principal, said no fire alarm system was installed in the room.
Police have also found the school does not employ a security guard. Watarai said the school has not had a security guard since she started there almost a year ago.
No suspects have been named, though according to a detective on the case, the police department is compiling a list.
The state Department of Education is looking over a school inventory to estimate the value of items destroyed. Rumors that the school or DOE have hired a private investigator are not true, Watarai said.
A demolition crew has removed much of the debris and the building remains boarded up. The workers in the main office, including Watarai, vice principal Nathan Aiwohi and support staff, have moved to another building located at the back of the campus.
All school activities are in session, including the after-school A-Plus program.
Pupil drop-offs and pickups have been rerouted to the War Memorial Convention Hall parking lot on the other west side of the campus, but school administrators have authorized parents to use the parking lot between the school and the old KPD headquarters for some pickups.
