The sports pavilion at Northcote College on Auckland’s North Shore has been destroyed in a blaze that broke out while firefighters were on strike.
Fire and Emergency said crews were alerted to a fire at the college at 12.17pm today.
They said the Silverdale Fire Brigade was the first crew to arrive at the scene at 12.29pm.
Northcote College confirmed in a social media post that the fire was in its sports pavilion.
It said students had been evacuated and were safe at another end of the campus.
“School is closing for the day at 2pm. Some students may not have their bag because of the evacuation. We are asking students to go home, if they can, without their bag.”
Students unable to leave at that time are being supported by staff in the school hall.
The college said an email would be sent later today to all students and whānau with further information about the fire.
A video taken from the school’s field shows large flames shooting from the burning block and plumes of black smoke billowing into the air.
A Herald reporter at the scene said bits of the building’s facade were falling away, while the central part of the roof had caved in.
A Northcote College student told the Herald the fire alarm went off and all students were evacuated to the courts.
The student said everyone could see “heaps of smoke” coming out of the building as they left their classrooms. All students were gathered on the courts watching fire crews battle the blaze.
The smoke was changing from black to white and was rising “really high” in the air.
Before the smoke turned black, the student could see flames inside the building.
“Giant flames” could be seen all over the roof, the student told the Herald.
Witness Leo Straight described the scene as “pretty hectic”, saying those gathered on the courts could feel the heat from the fire on the other side of the field.
It took firefighters about 30 minutes to arrive at the school, he said.
Police have blocked off access to the school entrance on Kauri Glen Rd.
A spokesperson said they were alerted to the fire at 12.35pm and were assisting Fire and Emergency.
One nearby Seaview resident told the Herald she saw a plume of smoke rising from the direction of the school.
She looked online and saw there was a fire, so decided to take a look because her granddaughter attended the college.
A maintenance worker at the school said he and his team had come back from lunch to see smoke rising.
He was concerned it might have been in one of the new buildings they were working on, but thought that the safety features in them would have stopped a fire quickly.
The latest fire comes nearly 12 years after a devastating fire destroyed Northcote College’s technology block (E block) in September 2014.
Auckland councillor Richard Hills said it was sad to see another fire at the school.
“It will be hugely upsetting to students, staff and school whānau, especially as they’re just getting back to normal, after the previous fire, and recent opening of new and upgraded buildings post-construction,” Hills said.
He advised locals in the area to close their windows.
“If you can’t handle the smell, head to a friend’s for the next little while,” he said.
Earlier today, the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) confirmed in a social media post that it would be striking from between midday and 1pm.
“Fenz management is quick to say that firefighters are ‘gambling with public safety’ by striking. The truth is, Fenz is gambling with your safety every single day,” the post read.
The union said another one-hour strike was planned for next Monday.
The college blaze is the second major fire to break out during firefighters’ strike action.
Last month, a fire engulfed a family-owned grocery store in Pakuranga while firefighters were on strike.
Fire and Emergency said it took volunteer crews 30 minutes to travel to the scene, compared with the usual time of about seven minutes.
It accused the union then of “gambling with the public’s safety”.
The union responded, saying it was “disgusting” that Fire and Emergency was “throwing stones at a moment when, obviously, the building is still on fire”.
Fire and Emergency said it received calls for 17 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, during the 12th strike from the NZPFU.
It said of these, 13 incidents were in areas impacted by the strike. The most significant being the fire at Northcote College.
Assistant national commander Ron Devlin said Fire and Emergency was first notified of the fire through a fire alarm at 12.17pm.
“As part of our contingency planning to manage reduced capability during strike action, we do not dispatch crews to automatic fire alarm activations unless there are multiple activations or confirming 111 calls.”
Devlin said crews were dispatched at 12.19pm following a second fire alarm notification. He said they also received a 111 call from a member of the public while heading to the scene.
“A commander was first to arrive at the scene at 12.29pm followed by a volunteer brigade from Silverdale at 12.34pm.
“They were later joined by additional volunteer brigades and career crews arrived following the conclusion of today’s strike action.
“Students and staff were evacuated and thankfully there are no reports of any injuries. Approximately 20 crews remain at the scene and the fire is now under control.“
Devlin said it was continuing to urge the NZPFU to call off planned strikes while the process of facilitation is underway.
Of the 13 other incidents impacted by the strike today, Devlin said two were fires at residential properties, one a pot smoking on a stove and the other a fire in roof space.
Two incidents were reports of car fires, which did not result in a fire, and two were reports of rubbish bin fires.
One was a motor vehicle crash with no rescue required. Five were fire alarms which did not result in a fire.