Smoke billows over a large fire at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College.
Video / Supplied
Fire crews have contained a “huge” blaze at a Taupō high school after “attacking the fire ... from all sides”.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said crews from across the region were able to stop the conflagration that started in one block of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College from spreading to neighbouring structures.
“Crews have multiple hose lines set up and are attacking the fire externally from all sides of the building,” Fire and Emergency said after earlier video showed one firefighter climbing on the roof to douse the flames.
Earlier, Fire and Emergency said the fire was producing a “significant amount of smoke”.
Video from the scene sent to the Herald showed firefighters climbing on to the roof of a burning school building, with crew members below passing them a hose.
They could be seen standing on the roof while enormous flames poured from the building 10m away.
A witness told the Herald she had been going shopping when she noticed the nearby blaze.
“It’s a big fire. I feel sorry for the kids. There will be some kids who will be happy and some kids who will be sad.
“The [trucks] have been coming and going. It’s still massive, black smoke. You can see the flames.”
A firefighter climbed on to the roof of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College to battle the blaze, which broke out this afternoon.
A second witness told the Herald she could hear booms and explosions from her house as the fire tore through the building.
In a Facebook post on its page, the school confirmed it would be closed tomorrow as a result of the fire.
“Please do not come on site.”
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