Cranbourne school fire destroys artwork

At 18:45 today [Thursday, 11 June] control operators at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service mobilised crews from Basingstoke and Tadley fire stations to tackle a fire at Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College in Wessex Close, Basingstoke.

On arrival at the scene, the firefighters (12 wholetime and 10 retained) found smoke issuing from an artwork store room situated on the corner of the first floor of the two-storey school premises. The crews successfully brought the fire under control using six sets of breathing apparatus, two jets, and Basingstoke's aerial ladder platform.

Incident Commander, Group Manager Jerry Leonard of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“Our firefighters worked extremely hard to contain the fire to the store room. Thanks to their swift actions and the school’s fire alarm system providing an early warning, we were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjoining classrooms - but sadly the students’ artwork was stored in the affected room.”

Fire investigation established that the cause of the blaze was accidental. The source of ignition was confirmed as sunlight reflecting onto a small mirror contained within the store room. Fire investigation officers stated that the housekeeping arrangements and security of the store room was as it should be.