New Plymouth school fire under scrutiny

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ

RAPID RESPONSE: Firefighters at the scene of the blaze at New Plymouth Girls’s High School on Sunday night.

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Firefighters rapidly contained a blaze that threatened to spread through the drama block at New Plymouth Girls' High School last night.

Six engines were called to the school at 10.45pm after numerous reports of thick smoke billowing across Mangorei Rd.

Police shut off the road as firefighters attacked the blaze. Quick work managed to prevent the fire spreading and late last night firefighters were using thermal imaging cameras to detect hotspots in the building's roof.

The Fire Service's Assistant Area Commander, David Utumapu, was unable to say how the fire started but said fire safety officers would conduct a thorough investigation this morning.

He was full of praise for the rapid response to the fire.

"It's been excellent work by the team for stopping it from spreading," he said.

A nearby rest home was alerted to possibility of fumes from the fire.

Initial fears that the school's hostel was on fire were unfounded.

- © Fairfax NZ News