Primary school set alight deliberately

Details

Friday, 24 February 2012 04:44

St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Church Road, Yate

An investigation into the cause of a fire at a primary school has found it started deliberately.

Two crews from Yate Fire Station were called to the incident after a member of the public noticed flames on the site. As the school was near to the local fire station, firefighters were on scene within a few minutes and immediately began tackling the blaze.
 

The fire involved the exterior of one of the school buildings and spread inside through a window. The roof of the single storey building was also on fire when crews arrived.
 

Supported by firefighters in a third fire engine from Kingswood Fire Station crews were successful in preventing the fire from spreading, limiting the damage to the buildings. The fire was tackled by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus inside the building; outside crews used hose reels to extinguish the flames.
 

Despite the efforts of crews the roof and an office was damaged by fire. The rest of the school was also affected by smoke which travelled through open doors.

A second fire at the school damaged a children's playhouse and caused damage to the exterior of the building.