Great fire in Kragujevac: The oldest Serbian Gymnasium on fire, suspects arrested (PHOTO)

The firefighters came immediately to the scene

The fire erupted in the oldest gymnasium in Serbia, built in 1833 in Kragujevac, and it swallowed the part of the building leaving only dust and ashes.

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The firefighters came immediately to the scene and they started extinguishing the fire.

As RTS unofficially found out, the police of Kragujevac arrested one person for suspicion that he set up the fire.

Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Zoran Kocovic told RTS that firefighters received the information about the fire in 3:22 and four vehicles with 11 firefighters came to the scene.

The fire in the oldest gymnasium south of Sava and Danube caught the left wing of the school, the ground level, and first floor. Quick intervention of firefighters prevented further spreading to the rest of the building.

The fire was localized within 10 minutes and it was completely put out by 5 this morning. The firefighters are still watching for preventive reasons. The fire erupted on the ground floor and the first floor of the school, according to the RTS source.

Slavica Markovic, principal of the First Kragujevac Gymnasium said that enormous damage has been done when it comes to the library fund, and paintings burned as well. 

- It is incredible that this situation occurred. The investigation will show what is the cause - Markovic said.

The First Kragujevac Gymnasium is under the protection of the state as a cultural monument.

It is hard to estimate the value of material damage caused by the fire in Gymnasium, but it is certainly great, the principal of the school Slavica Markovic said for Tanjug.

- It is hard to put it all to number at this moment, but the damage is great. A lot of objects were destroyed, and a lot of priceless items are gone, like books, paintings... - Markovic.

According to her, the fire spread to three teacher offices and one classroom.

When asked if the school will be able to hold classes after holidays, Markovic said that the rooms are being cleared thanks to the communal service of Kragujevac and the employees of the school, so everything will be functional for classes on January 9th.

She mentioned that electric installations will be checked at first to determine that there are no dangers for children and employees.

As she said, the police didn't inform her about the official cause of the fire.

Police department Kragujevac announced earlier today that they arrested N.G. (1981) from Kragujevac. Suspected of setting up the fire around 2 AM last night in Gymnasium. 

(Telegraf.co.uk / RTS)