heat lamp overtaxes circuit

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Fire: new theories

STAFF at Camp Hill Primary School believe a fire that destroyed a portable classroom and killed dozens of much-loved classroom pets was caused by a faulty power point.

It had been thought Friday night's blaze was started by a heat lamp warming a group of newly hatched chickens, but school principal Lois Cawthan said now the wreckage was cleared it was obvious where the fire centre was.

"The really hot spot was around the power point," she said.

"You couldn't say it was the lamp. There's no way now."

"The centre of action where all the damage was was at the power point."

Ms Cawthan said the burn marks at the outlet became apparent when builders gutted the classroom on Monday.

Before the heat lamp was plugged in the power point had not been used for some time as an object had been resting in front of it.

"Whatever was plugged in it could have gone up," Ms Cawthan said.

A dedicated team of cleaners have been hard at work since Monday clearing and cleaning the portable's two classrooms.

"Already it's amazing what they've done," Ms Cawthan said.

She said the schoolchildren, who lost between 40 and 50 chickens, two budgies and eggs in the fire, were doing well.

A Department of Education social worker spent Monday morning with the classes and teaching staff.

The school has been touched by the generosity showed by the community in the aftermath of the fire.

The students are now settled into two new classrooms, kindly provided by Bendigo Senior Secondary College.

A florist sent flowers to the staff members, a retired poultry farmer has volunteered to come and speak to the classes, and there has even been the offer of a hen and chickens for the children.

Ms Cawthan said the Department of Education would decide what to do with the damaged portable.