Ten year old may have set Malpass Elementary fire

A 10 year old boy may be to blame for Monday’s fire at Malpass Corner Elementary School.

Police believe the young arsonist started a fire in a mechanized paper towel dispenser.

The school will be closed for clean-up through the middle of next week, which is a decision some parents are questioning.

One parent, Jamie Whitmore said, “It’s hard because people have to work, and I’ve told my family and friends, no you don’t have to pay me to watch your kids. I don’t mind, but not too many people are going to be like that.”

Several of Whitmore’s friends couldn’t get off work this week, so she volunteered to watch their kids while school is out.

Officials closed the doors Monday after a fire in the bathroom. The key suspect is a ten year old student, but until the debris is cleaned up, parents continue to scramble to find childcare during the day.

Jamie’s son Jamal said of the school closing, “Its kind of good, and bad, because when I’m home and I get done with what I’m am done with, I get bored and wish I was at school.”

Forest Hill Baptist Church is just four miles away from Malpass Elementary. It has plenty of extra rooms, leaving the pastor to wonder why the school didn’t call. “Of course our church here like Forest Hills and other churches in the community are glad to lend our facilities to anyone in need.” Pastor Cook says in the future, Pender County needs to work together to plan for emergencies like the fire at Malpass Elementary.

Malpass Corner Elementary school will be closed until the middle of next week. The bulk of the problem is smoke residue in the heating ducts. The school board met late this afternoon to discuss further plans for the cleanup.