Sandymount

Mat burned outside East Middle SchoolA gym mat valued at $1,900 was deliberately set ablaze on the playground of East Middle School in Westminster about 9:15 a.m. yesterday, fire officials reported.City police, a deputy state fire marshal and the Westminster fire company responded to calls about the fire, but school personnel extinguished the flames before the fire department arrived, officials said.Investigators reported that they found a cigarette lighter next to the destroyed mat, which measured 9 feet by 5 feet by 2 feet and was used by high jumpers.