College blaze blamed on magnified sunlight (From Basingstoke Gazette)

College blaze blamed on magnified sunlight

11:50am Monday 15th June 2009 in News By Chris Gregory

FIREFIGHTERS believe sunlight magnified through a glass window caused a blaze that gutted the arts storeroom at Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College in Basingstoke.

Crews from Basingstoke and Tadley were called to the College, in Wessex Close, at 6.45pm on Thursday after the alarm was triggered.

The fire took a team of 12 firefighters 45 minutes to put out. No one was injured in the blaze, which was on the first floor.

Group manager Jerry Leonard, of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said although investigations will continue, sunlight seemed the most likely cause.

He said: “One side of the room was like a glass wall. The sunlight, reflecting off a shaving mirror, caused the ignition.”

He added: “Our firefighters worked extremely hard to contain the fire in the storeroom.

“Thanks to their swift actions and the school’s fire alarm system providing an early warning, we were able to prevent the fire spreading to the adjoining classrooms.”

Head teacher Betty Elkins was quick to calm initial fears that GCSE art coursework had been lost in the blaze.

She told The Gazette: “There is no GCSE artwork damaged whatsoever.

“But everything that was in the store room is lost, like paper, text books, artefacts and personal belongings of art teachers.”

Mrs Elkins added: “The fire was a fluke, it is very unusual but it is not unheard of. My thanks go out to the firefighters and site staff who reacted so quickly.”

Firefighters used two high-pressure hoses, breathing apparatus and an aerial ladder platform from Basingstoke fire station to tackle the blaze.

The college, which has 1,160 students on its roll, had been due to host two adult education classes on Thursday evening from the Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT).

About 16 tai’chi pupils were turned back from the school, but five students due to start a French class at 7pm were given permission by firefighters to hold their class on the school field and their lesson went ahead on the grass.