Fire damages Rotorua school's shed

A fire has been discovered at a Rotorua school. Photo/Supplied

A Rotorua school has had a lucky escape after a fire was discovered on the grounds.

St Michael's Catholic School principal Shelly Fitness discovered the fire near the school's sport shed about 5pm on Thursday. "It was very lucky actually, I was really engrossed in a project so I had stayed late.

"Any other night I'd be in my car and gone."

Ms Fitness said two young boys who had been riding past the school on bikes alerted her to the fire.

The boys then alerted the neighbour to move their car and directed the fire engines.

Photos posted to the school's Facebook page show a pile of rubbish on fire and flames licking the side of the building with damage visible.

"It's not structural, but we will have to replace a panel on the shed."

She said on the other side of the wall was a gas bottle and toxic cleaning chemicals.

"At the time you just go into automatic.

"When I got home I was shaking a little bit and when I read the comments on Facebook I had a little cry."

The Facebook post said "fire-fighters (sic) tell me that if they had have been another two minutes later the whole shed would've been up in flames.

"A good reminder of why it is not safe for our students to be on school property after hours."

Ms Fitness said the community was saddened by what had happened.

"Mostly we are so grateful for how it turned out."