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Fire ravages Normanton school building | Fire ravages Normanton school building |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A large fire broke out a school as students gathered to collect their GCSE results. | A large fire broke out a school as students gathered to collect their GCSE results. |
West Yorkshire Fire Service said half of Freeston Academy in Normanton, near Wakefield was ablaze at one point, leaving the building badly damaged. | West Yorkshire Fire Service said half of Freeston Academy in Normanton, near Wakefield was ablaze at one point, leaving the building badly damaged. |
More than 50 firefighters attended after the alarm was raised at 09:10 BST. The blaze was brought under control by about 12:00. | More than 50 firefighters attended after the alarm was raised at 09:10 BST. The blaze was brought under control by about 12:00. |
The fire service said there were no injuries and students were unaffected. | The fire service said there were no injuries and students were unaffected. |
Local residents were advised to keep windows closed and stay inside at the height of the fire. | Local residents were advised to keep windows closed and stay inside at the height of the fire. |
Ian Bitcon, area manager for the fire service, said the blaze was in the roof of the school which was "difficult to deal with due to access". | Ian Bitcon, area manager for the fire service, said the blaze was in the roof of the school which was "difficult to deal with due to access". |
He said: "We've been very fortunate in that the school's unoccupied and there's been a very good water supply. | He said: "We've been very fortunate in that the school's unoccupied and there's been a very good water supply. |
"We appear to pretty much have it cracked now." | "We appear to pretty much have it cracked now." |
'Utter drama' | 'Utter drama' |
A caller to Radio Leeds said: "I was on my way home when I saw this massive smoke and flames. | A caller to Radio Leeds said: "I was on my way home when I saw this massive smoke and flames. |
"They turned us all away and stopped us all going up the street. | "They turned us all away and stopped us all going up the street. |
"There's loads of kids here waiting for their GCSE results and they're all coming away in tears." | "There's loads of kids here waiting for their GCSE results and they're all coming away in tears." |
Students at the school were later directed to the sports hall to collect their exam results. | Students at the school were later directed to the sports hall to collect their exam results. |
A woman whose daughter had been to collect her exam results at the school said: "It's been a crazy day". | A woman whose daughter had been to collect her exam results at the school said: "It's been a crazy day". |
She told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's been an emotional rollercoaster. First, getting up and waiting to come in and pick up the results. | She told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's been an emotional rollercoaster. First, getting up and waiting to come in and pick up the results. |
"But then to hear the school was on fire. It's just been an utter drama." | "But then to hear the school was on fire. It's just been an utter drama." |
In a statement, the school said: "Our main priority was the safety of our staff, students and contractors working on site, and to ensure that our year 11 students were able to collect their GCSE results. | |
"Following advice from the fire service, all students were able to collect their GCSE results from outside the sports hall. | |
"All staff on the site were accounted for and no one was hurt in the fire." |