Bethlehem College fire in workshop building not suspicious - investigator

Bethlehem College fire seen from Cambridge Rd. Photo / Murray Sunckell

The cause of a fire inside a workshop building at Tauranga’s Bethlehem College is not being treated as suspicious but a fire investigator is at the scene.

A Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) spokesman earlier said fire crews called to the school grounds about 7pm on Sunday found a single-story building “totally involved” in fire.

The fire was about 16m by 10m.

Three fire crews from Greerton and Tauranga were sent to the scene and the fire was fully extinguished by about 10pm last night.

The fire was not being treated as suspicious, and a fire investigator was examining the scene, he said.

Cambridge Rd resident Murray Sunckell, who lives about 2km from the college, said he smelt smoke shortly after 7pm and walked up a hill for a closer look.

He saw billowing smoke in the distance and a fire truck headed to the college.

Tennis courts and buildings at Bethlehem College in Tauranga. Photo / Alex Cairns

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Tauranga fire investigator Stuart Craddock told the Bay of Plenty Times he arrived at the college at 8am today and there was no evidence to suggest the fire was suspicious.

Craddock said the damaged building, which measured about 10m by 30m, contained machinery and tools and was being used as a workshop by college grounds staff.

The fire resulted in “lots of smoke and heat damage” and the cause was yet to be determined, he said.

Craddock said he expected to be at the scene all day.

The college and Christian Education Trust have been approached for comment.