Tania Dall / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Fire Department says all signs, at least for now, point to arson in a fire that has forced a New Orleans East school to close for the rest of the week
Investigators are still on-scene at Resurrection of Our Lord School in the 4800 block of Rosalia Drive and believe multiple fires were purposefully set throughout the property.
Eyewitness News has learned from the Archdiocese that the school received a threatening letter just before Christmas. The New Orleans Police Department says that was a bomb threat, which may be connected to Tuesday’s arson attack.
Fire crews responded around 6:30 a.m. to reports of smoke and flames. NOFD says when firefighters arrived they found the school’s administration office fully engulfed in flames. The fire department was forced to call out 13 units and 40 firefighters to the scene to help control the flames and eventually putting out the fire.
Although the fire appears to have started in church offices, fire officials confirm that trails of accelerants were found in a total of six buildings on the church property, and that’s why they believe the fire was sparked by an arsonist.
Hearing that someone may have intentionally started the fire is troubling to neighbors.
“It’s just shocking that someone would want to set a school on fire for what reason. I guess nobody knows really,” said neighbor John Hicks.
“When I saw the smoke coming, I’m like Lord! Thank God, when I saw the firemen coming and red lights were flashing. It could have affected us,” said neighbor Debra Ruffin.
The Resurrection of Our Lord School will be closed for the rest of this week and was already scheduled to be closed next week for Mardi Gras.
The Archdiocese has arranged daycare alternatives for Thursday and Friday of this week for parents needing help at St. Paul the Apostle for information call 866-7916.
