Reino Unido: Fire destroys large parts of Selsey academy

Europa/Reino Unido/28 Agosto 2016/Fuente: theguardian /Autor:BBC

Resumen: Los alumnos de Selsey cara academia de interrupción al inicio del año académico después de un gran incendio arrancados de que la escuela cerca de Chichester el domingo.Hasta 100 bomberos abordaron el incendio, que destruyó parcialmente la escuela secundaria sólo dos semanas antes del final de las vacaciones de verano.El humo denso y acre se ve desde muy lejos como 14 camiones de bomberos fueron enviados a la escuela.

Pupils of Selsey academy face disruption to the start of the academic year after a huge fire ripped though the school near Chichester on Sunday.

Up to 100 firefighters tackled the blaze, which partly destroyed the secondary school just two weeks before the end of the summer holidays.

Dense, acrid smoke was seen from miles around as 14 fire engines were sent to the school.

The fire is believed to have started in the roof space just before 8am before quickly spreading through large parts of the school amid winds of about 25mph.

West Sussex fire and rescue service received more than 60 calls.

In an effort to protect neighbouring homes, including some thatched properties, a small number were evacuated. Other residents were told by emergency teams to keep their windows shut and stay indoors as black smoke poured from the building.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire at the school for pupils aged 11 to 16.

A West Sussex fire and rescue service spokesman said: “We rule nothing out but at this stage there is nothing to suggest it was arson.”

Some parts of the school were unscathed but it faces a race against time to be ready for the return of schoolchildren on 6 September.

“Clearly, there is a lot of damage to the school but every effort will be given to help get it back up and running,” the fire service spokesman added.

The school said it would make alternative arrangements for students due to collect their GCSE results on Thursday.

The chair of governors, Bill Emerson, said contingency plans were in place. “There is a possibility we might be able to save a small section of the school and the emergency services are doing their best to do that,” he told the BBC. “But it is amazing how quickly the fire has spread. It’s shocking. The structures are effectively a skeleton now compared to what they were.”

No injuries were reported among members of the public and firefighters, but a police officer directing traffic at the scene was reportedly hit at low speed by a car.

Crews were sent from neighbouring Hampshire to help contain the fire’s spread, while firefighters in Surrey and East Sussex provided cover for their West Sussex colleagues. Fire crews remained on the scene overnight.