MURREE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- The fire that burned a Pakistani Christian missionary school in Murree on November 3 was apparently caused by a gas leak, ANS has learnt.

The fire reduced three buildings of the St. Denys’ popular Christian residential school to ashes and caused an estimated financial loss to the tune of one billion Pakistani rupees ($1,195,314.32 US Dollars).

Solomon William, a board member with Life for All in Islamabad and also a poet and writer, told ANS, “Today, the official report by the investigation committee of the St. Denys’ School was presented to the Bishop Alexander John Malik, moderator of the school and a Bishop of the Church of Pakistan.

“The report clearly stated that the fire started from inside of the 2nd floor of the building. There was a gas leakage and a short circuit, as the whole building is made of wood so it completely got burnt.

“Some students were inquired [questioned] and they stated that they had complained the administration about the electrical boards on the 1st and 2nd floors which were having loose connections. The students heard a small blast and then a fire ball came in the corridor and started burning the floor.

“The head of investigations has told that there was no evidence found that the fire started from inside, but they did find 2 completely burnt containers of petrol [gasoline] and spirit from inside the record room which was locked from inside.”

Mr. William added, “Bishop Malik has not given any official statement, but has suspended 3 officials from the St. Denys’ School. The reason for termination has not been told. The sources from the Bishop house confirmed that 3 termination letters were signed by the Bishop, but the names are being kept confidential.”

Murree, a popular hill station and a summer resort especially for residents of Islamabad, is located along Islamabad-Kohala highway some 30 km (19 miles) northeast of Islamabad.

The fire was so forceful that it reduced a five-storey building, a three storey building and another building to ashes in one and a half hours.

A three storey building that was damaged contained a box room, children dormitories, class rooms and a hall. The five-storey building had stores on first floor, residences on second floor, a staff room and a library on third floor, dormitories on fourth floor and a box room on fifth floor.

Another building that also suffered extensive loss was situated between the three and five-storey buildings. It had a kitchen, classrooms, dinning halls and offices. The school records have been destroyed as a result of fire. The school was being run under the aegis of Church of Pakistan.

ANS has learnt that the entire buildings have been gutted except a prep class room and chapel.

The fire created fear and panic among 142 boarders who were present inside the school when the fire began.

Dan Wooding, 68, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 46 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC., and now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California and which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on UCB UK and Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Wooding is the author of some 43 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to . E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, also recently released “God’s Ambassadors in Japan” which is available at http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Ambassadors-Japan-Kenny-Joseph/dp/0982486901/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250907756&sr=8-22