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Home / New Zealand

Large amount of asbestos found after fire in Petone

APNZ
20 Jan, 2014 08:46 PMQuick Read

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File photo / APN

File photo / APN

A large amount of asbestos has been discovered in an abandoned school which caught fire yesterday but the Fire Service says nearby residents are in no danger.

Fifteen fire engines battled the blaze for about two hours after flames engulfed a hall at the former Petone Technical College campus last night.

The roof and external cladding were seriously damaged in the blaze, senior station officer Rob Sullivan said.

The ceiling had asbestos through it, but calm weather lessened the risk of the dangerous substance being blown from the scene.

"All the fibres are kept wet, which is literally the fix-it...you keep it all wet and that stops any fibres from becoming airborne," he said.

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Rain today was a huge help in containing the asbestos.

The school had been targeted before by arsonists and yesterday's fire was being treated as suspicious.

Police and fire investigators were due back today to determine its cause.

"But we've got a pretty good idea that it's not kosher," he said.

The building is expected to be demolished.

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