The military are keeping an eye on small teams roaming many provinces, among them Chaiyaphum, where more than 10 schools have been set ablaze with no suspects arrested. They are suspected of "casing" the schools for the actual arsonists.

The general was speaking after a trip to Chaiyaphum to visit a teacher who sustained injuries after fighting arsonists who recently tried to set fire to Jom Kaew Witthaya School in Bamnej Narong district.

He praised Karaked Phringphet for her heroism and vowed to keep up protection for her in hospital.

Sujate said his trip was aimed at prompting local authorities in northeastern provinces to consolidate their efforts to protect schools and fight off anticipated politically motivated arson attacks. He earlier provided blankets and school supplies to 400 people in four Chaiyaphum districts.

A fire destroyed a building in the compound of a Kamphaeng Phet kindergarten late on Thursday night, apparently caused by an electrical short circuit.

Local police in Khlong Lan district, where the kindergarten is located, said a young man had forgotten to unplug an electric pan after cooking, causing it to overheat and catch fire. Station chief Winai Onsuwan said the fire was not a case of arson.

The man was identified as Natthaphol Imphithak, nephew of a janitor who lived in the building that caught fire. He has been charged with recklessness leading to damage to property.

Meanwhile, police in Buri Ram's Prakhonechai district are investigating claims by students who said they had seen two men trying to set fire to a classroom in Ban Khoke Rang School yesterday morning.

Police found that a number of papers posted on a display board outside the classroom had been burned, but no other damage.

Provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Chinthat Meesuk said they were questioning the schoolchildren to determine whether they had made up the story after accidentally burning the papers themselves.

Teachers at the school called the police after students told them they had seen two men on a motorcycle ride into the school compound and set fire to the board with a lighter before fleeing.

There were no other witnesses to the alleged incident.