Hari Hari school fire investigated

Six classrooms were destroyed or badly damaged in the blaze. Photo / File

Fire investigators were today sifting through the charred remains of a classroom block gutted by fire at Hari Hari early last night.

Six rooms in the technology block at South Westland Area School were either destroyed or badly damaged in the blaze, which is believed to have started in the home economics room, shortly after 7pm.

Hari Hari Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer John MacIntosh said the building was well involved when they arrived, and back-up was called from Whataroa.

Mr Macintosh said firefighters worked for more than two hours to contain the fire, with two crews working inside, and another on the roof removing the iron to douse the flames from above.

Principal Ross Brockbank said the school was closed today and would remain closed until Tuesday, while staff and the board of trustees worked out a re-occupation plan.

A new classroom structure was needed, with only six usable rooms left for the school's 98 students, from Year 1 to Year 13.

Electricity supply was also affected.

"The biggest issue for us is securing the site. I'm not having kids on site if it's not secure," Mr Brockbank said.

The Westland District Council was today arranging fencing to be put up around the burned block.

Mr Brockbank, and deputy principal Nick Glancy, who is also a member of the local fire brigade, were among the first on the scene.

"It's always a surprise when you see flames like that but I have to say my immediate thought was 'thank goodness no one was here'," Mr Brockbank said.

"Luckily, a local farmer noticed it or we could have lost the whole lot."

In the light of day, emotions were catching up, he said.

"I've gone from disappointed, to angry and upset."

The block was the newest part of the school, renovated eight years ago.

- Hokitika Guardian