Yellowknife (Aug 16/06) - A second school was the target of arson sometime between Friday and yesterday, according to the Yellowknife Fire Department and the NWT fire marshal.

Black scorch marks and remains of some sort of fuel cover a back wall of J.H. Sissons school on 51 A Avenue.

Fire personnel say fire was "superficial" but called it lucky the school wasn't engulfed in flames. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

The fire was out by the time it was discovered at approximately 2 p.m. yesterday by school maintenance personnel.

Fire marshal Bernie Van Tighem, acting fire chief Darcy Hernblad and deputy fire chief Chucker Dewar were at the scene around 4 p.m. investigating the blaze.

"We're thinking it was some sort of fuel or oil. You can smell it," said Van Tighem, looking at the burn patterns on the wall.

While the damage is "superficial" Dewar said it could have been much worse.

"Dry, unprotected wood is particularly flammable," he said, adding it was lucky the school wasn't engulfed in flames.

The marks covered an area over two metres high and four metres wide. Hernblad said the fire could have been "pretty scary."

Hernblad could not say how the fire was put out but said rain was one possibility because of water marks on one of the windows.

Van Tighem said he collected evidence at the scene which included containers but declined to comment on what else was found.

While no one could say whether this fire is connected to the blaze at St. Joseph school on Aug. 3, Van Tighem admitted both fires were set close together. That blaze tore through several portable classrooms and a gymnasium.

"This is two in a short period of time," said Van Tighem.

Yellowknife Education District No. 1 superintendent Metro Huculak said he is aware of the situation but could not comment at this time.

"I was busy in meetings about St. Joseph," he said.

Students from St. Joseph, which is part of the Catholic system, are set to attend Yk 1 schools in the fall.

Hernblad said the RCMP have been contacted and he has asked that they patrol the area more.

He is also asking the public to be vigilant and watch over Yellowknife schools as they seem to be a target.

Van Tighem said the reason people might be setting the fires is because school is starting up soon.

There were no suspects in the Sissons fire as of press time.