Published: August 20th, 2008 12:31 AM
Last Modified: August 20th, 2008 12:31 AM
AKIACHAK -- Adolescents playing hide and seek in an old elementary school burned the place down after failing to put out a makeshift torch Sunday night, according to Alaska State Troopers.
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Local volunteers brought the fire under control Monday afternoon, but not before it destroyed the school, an attached classroom, a garage and a truck inside it, troopers said. Damage was estimated at $200,000, they said.
The seven trespassers, ages 13 to 20, got into the school through an unlocked door Sunday at about 10 p.m. One of them constructed the torch using a piece of wood and cloth so the group could see inside the building, which had no power, troopers said.
When finished, the torch-bearer set the flaming stick down, tried to put it out but left without being sure, troopers said. It lit a piece of plywood and eventually spread throughout the building and the attached structures.
There were no injuries, and the investigation is continuing.
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