A LOLLIPOP man who set fire to his own school in a drunken attack loved the students and his work, a court has heard.

Jack John Vacirca, 49, had been drinking with friends on November 10, 2004, when he declared he wanted to see "the red lights of fire trucks".

Soon after making the declaration, Vacirca lit a fire at Isik College in Broadmeadows.

He had worked at the non-denominational Turkish school, across from his house, as a lollipop man for more than three years.

The fire destroyed three classrooms, causing $617,000 damage.

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