Catholic Education Board (CEBM) comments on fire at St Benedict’s College

A midday fire at St Benedict’s College in La Romaine on Wednesday, October 1, prompted a full evacuation of students and staff. The fire broke out around 12.20 p.m. in the storage room of the school’s auditorium, which was quickly contained by officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) Southern Division. No injuries, casualties, or major structural damage were reported.

Videos have since circulated online, raising speculation that the fire may have been deliberately set. School officials say they are awaiting the official cause from fire authorities.

The incident has sparked wider concern about student behaviour, as one brief video circulating on social media showed students running toward the fire, recording it with their phones rather than evacuating. The behaviour drew strong reaction from Catholic education officials.

Fr David Khan

“I am very concerned that some of the students, instead of running away from the fire, were running towards it to record it when it started,” said Fr David Khan, Vicar for Education and Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM) in a WhatsApp voice message.

“However, I must say I’m very proud that the protocol concerning fire and safety in the school was applied as stipulated. Everything went well. The teachers supervised the evacuation and got the boys to the muster point so the roll call could take place,” he said.

Students were evacuated to the churchyard, the school’s designated muster point, where they were accounted for and later addressed by the school’s principal.

Some parents expressed concern that they were not contacted directly by the school, but learned about the fire through social media posts. Fr Khan explained that while the school followed proper emergency procedures, student-generated content reached the public before official communication could be issued.

“I know some parents were concerned that the school did not call them when this happened,” he said.

“The school was following the safety procedure, which is to ensure that all persons—staff, students, ancillary staff, and visitors—are assembled at the muster point. The roll call is done to ensure everyone is present and accounted for. But during that time, boys being boys, …started to send via social media.”

Fr Khan also expressed gratitude for the outcome that there was no injury to any person. He congratulated the fire officers “for a wonderful job in containing the fire.”

Although there was no major structural damage, the Ministry of Education directed that the school remain closed on Thursday, October 2, to allow the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to conduct air quality testing.

School officials have since blocked off access to the affected area of the auditorium as a precaution, following instructions from the School Supervisor III.

Principal Gregory Quan Kep has advised that classes will resume Monday, October 6.