LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Arson is suspected in the most recent fire at Lincoln East High School and parent volunteers will now patrol the school's hallways to curb the growing trend.
Parents asked how they could help and investigators told Principal Mary Beth Lehmanowsky that having more observers would help, Lehmanowsky said. Teachers will continue to monitor hallways, she said. The parent volunteers will patrol until the end of the school year next month.
Investigators suspect arson in the small fire on Tuesday that forced the school to evacuate for about an hour, said investigator Chuck Schweitzer. The fire, in a dressing room near the school's theater, caused an estimated $5,000 worth of smoke and water damage, he said. No one was hurt, he said.
The fire was the seventh in recent months. Four other fires were in trash cans, one was near a volleyball net and the sixth was near the site of Tuesday's fire, he said.
Investigators have not said whether the fires are connected. Three investigators are looking into the fires, he said.
But Schweitzer said he was concerned because the blazes are increasing in severity.
Lehmanowsky said school officials have pinned some fires on several students.
''We have taken action with the students we were aware of,'' she said.
She would not say how many students were believed to be involved or what action was taken.
She said the school is working closely with investigators and Crime Stoppers.
A letter was sent home this week to parents asking them to encourage their children to share information about the fires.
This week's fire was contained to one room and it was nearly extinguished by the time firefighters arrived because of the school's sprinkler system, Schweitzer said.
Information from: Lincoln Journal Star
