Bathroom fire clears Holmdel High School

BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer

HOLMDEL - A fire in a bathroom at the township high school resulted in damage to school facilities and inconvenienced students and faculty for more than an hour on Friday, according to police.

At 9:17 a.m., a custodian noticed heavy smoke emanating from a boys' bathroom in the 500 wing of the high school. The custodian activated the school's fire alarm, and students were evacuated from the school with no reported injuries.

Emergency management organizations including the Old Village, Lincroft and Holmdel fire companies, Holmdel Rescue and First Aid squads and the Holmdel police responded to the high school. The fire was extinguished by the Old Village Fire Company. Because of smoke conditions, students and faculty were not allowed back into the building until 10:27 a.m.

An investigation of the scene revealed the fire was intentional. Interim Superintendent Mark Franceschini said that the police have a lead in identifying the perpetrator or perpetrators and that it is most likely a student.

Detective Sgt. James Smythe said the fire was most likely started by a student, but police do not have conclusive evidence pointing to an individual.

"Rumors are out there," Smythe said. "Nothing solid yet."

Smythe said by the end of the week they will most likely have something more solid.

Franceschini said that he did not know the motive for setting the fire, but that it could range from a senior prank to protestation over the recent transfer of 44 teachers that spurred a recent student walkout. He said that with high school students, "You don't know what's on their minds."

The Board of Education and the superintendent have authorized a $1,000 reward for information that identifies the perpetrator(s) of the fire, which Franceschini said resulted in the entire bathroom being filled with soot. He estimated the cost of the damage as ranging $3,000 to $5,000.

He also expressed surprise over the incident.

"My experience is that the kids here are special," he said. "There are exceptions to that generalization."

Police ask that anyone with information regarding this incident call the Holmdel Police Department Detective Bureau at (732) 946-4400. All calls are confidential.