Waikato fire: School struck by lightning before blaze broke out in hall roof

A Waikato primary school hall caught fire after a morning lightning strike, causing students to be evacuated from their classrooms.

One parent has been praised for his heroic efforts to fight the blaze before emergency services arrived.

Puketaha Primary School principal Nyree Olliver said at about 10.45am there was a “really thick cloud” over the school.

“There was a bright flash. There was really deep thunder. Lightning struck the school,” Olliver said.

“Our fire system was zapped.”

After the lightning strike the school’s fire system was beeping. Olliver said she was on the phone with the electrician and the power company when she smelled smoke.

The fire in the roof of the Puketaha Primary School hall on Wednesday. Photo / Maryana Garcia

“They told me to turn off the power. I told them I smelled something electrical burning.”

Olliver said school parent Roydon Barnes was the hero of the day.

“He was the first to see the smoke.”

Olliver said Barnes cut his arm getting a fire extinguisher off the wall.

He emptied four or five extinguishers onto the flames as teachers evacuated classrooms before leaving the building himself when the smoke became too thick.

“We had to think really quickly,” Olliver said.

“It’s a real fire. Get them out.”

Within seconds children were gathered in the assembly area and the roll was being taken.

“We practice every term,” Olliver said.

“The most important thing was the kids were out, and keeping them calm and happy.”

Olliver said school staff stayed calm throughout and “everyone pitched in to help”.

Firefighters contained the fire to the Puketaha Primary School hall and saved neighbouring classrooms. Photo / Maryana Garcia

“They played games with the kids while contacting parents.

“There were a few kids who were worried, but we made sure to get their bags so they could have lunch.”

Olliver said before she knew it parents were arriving to pick up their children.

Now, Olliver said the task was to secure the buildings and figure out how school would work over the next few days.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said two ambulances went to the scene and one person had minor injuries.

Fire and Emergency NZ firefighters were called just before midday.

“On arrival, crews found a well-involved roof fire in a single-storey building approximately 15m by 10m,” a spokesman said.

“The building is used as a school hall. The building was fully evacuated.”

Four standard fire trucks, two water tankers, a support vehicle from the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Brigade and a ladder truck from Manukau went to the scene.

Water from a swimming pool was used to fight the fire, the spokesman said.

Police were also called to help fire crews.

Four standard fire trucks, two water tankers, a support vehicle from the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Brigade and a ladder truck from Manukau went to the scene. Photo / Maryana Garcia

Community patrol volunteer Gary said he was alerted at 12.25 pm.

“We’ve been helping fire with traffic control at the corner of Puketaha Rd and Sainsbury Rd.”

Sainsbury Rd was closed to allow emergency services access to the hall.

The firefighter in charge at the scene said when they arrived the children had been evacuated to an assembly point.

He said firefighters focused on ensuring the fire did not spread to neighbouring classrooms.

A fire investigator was expected on site this afternoon to begin determining the cause of the fire.

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.