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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Selsey school ablaze as explosions heard | Selsey school ablaze as explosions heard |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Explosions were heard at the scene of a fire that has reduced a secondary school in West Sussex to a skeleton. | Explosions were heard at the scene of a fire that has reduced a secondary school in West Sussex to a skeleton. |
| More than 75 firefighters tackled the blaze at Selsey Academy in School Lane. Huge plumes of black smoke have been coming from the site. | More than 75 firefighters tackled the blaze at Selsey Academy in School Lane. Huge plumes of black smoke have been coming from the site. |
| The blaze broke out about 08:00 BST, with more than 60 calls being made to Sussex Control Centre. | The blaze broke out about 08:00 BST, with more than 60 calls being made to Sussex Control Centre. |
| The fire could be seen clearly from Selsey Football Club, which was tweeting footage of the flames. | The fire could be seen clearly from Selsey Football Club, which was tweeting footage of the flames. |
| 'Like an apocalypse' | 'Like an apocalypse' |
| People in the vicinity were advised to stay clear of the smoke, remain inside and keep their windows closed, but crowds gathered to watch the firefighting effort. | People in the vicinity were advised to stay clear of the smoke, remain inside and keep their windows closed, but crowds gathered to watch the firefighting effort. |
| Dr Chrissie Tizzard, who lives opposite the school, said she saw "plumes and plumes of black smoke towering above the house, rather like an apocalypse". | Dr Chrissie Tizzard, who lives opposite the school, said she saw "plumes and plumes of black smoke towering above the house, rather like an apocalypse". |
| Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has sent crews to help West Sussex colleagues and South East Coast Ambulance Service is also at the scene. | Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has sent crews to help West Sussex colleagues and South East Coast Ambulance Service is also at the scene. |
| Chichester District Council's building control officers are assessing the safety of the structure. | Chichester District Council's building control officers are assessing the safety of the structure. |
| Sussex Police said an officer directing traffic at the scene was taken to hospital after being hit by a Vauxhall Corsa at low speed. | Sussex Police said an officer directing traffic at the scene was taken to hospital after being hit by a Vauxhall Corsa at low speed. |
| His injuries are not believed to be serious. | His injuries are not believed to be serious. |
| Selsey Academy | Selsey Academy |
| Chairman of governors Bill Emerson said the school was devastated. | Chairman of governors Bill Emerson said the school was devastated. |
| "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 said. | "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 said. |
| "But it is amazing how quickly the fire has spread. | "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 and we have still got fire raging in sections." | "It's shocking. The structures are effectively a skeleton now compared to what they were and we have still got fire raging in sections." |
| He said it was too early to say how the blaze began. | He said it was too early to say how the blaze began. |
| He added: "It's the only secondary school in the peninsula and it is going to be devastating to the community. | |
| "There are contingency plans in place to make sure the children can pick up their GCSE results [on Thursday] and to make sure we can provide education to children when they start the school year." | "There are contingency plans in place to make sure the children can pick up their GCSE results [on Thursday] and to make sure we can provide education to children when they start the school year." |