EXCLUSIVE: Sixteen firefighters risked their lives during an extensive search at the height of a major fire at a former secondary school last night, Derry Daily can reveal.
The scene of the fire at St Peter’s Highschool last night.
The blaze at the one-time St Peter’s High School at Foyle Hill on the edge of the Creggan was reported to emergency services shortly after 8.30pm and was torched by arsonists.
It took three hours for six fire crews from the city’s two stations at Crescent Link and Northland Road, Strabane and Limavady to to extinguish the blaze which caused extensive damage to the roof of the main building of the complex.
After securing the building, they withdrew from the scene shortly after 1.00am.
No one was injured in the incident but speaking to the Derry Daily at the scene, Mark Smyth, area group commander with the Northern Ireland Fire Service, revealed firefighters risked their lives during a thorough search of building when the blaze was at its height.
He revealed: “The building was well ablaze when we got here and we immediately had to send in 16 firefighters in breathing apparatus and carrying search lights to search the premises as it was believed there were a number of people trapped. Thankfully, that was not the case and none of the firefighters were injured.”
Throughout the incident, residents living close to the burning building were advised to keep their windows closed because of a possible threat of poisonous fumes from burning asbestos.
Many of the 200-plus crowd who looked on from a safe distance expressed their anger and disgust at those responsible with one woman saying it was “very sad.”
Residents living close to the burning building were advised to keep their windows close because of the threat of burning asbestos.
It is the second time the former school has been targeted by arsonists since it closed its gates for the final time at the end of the school term in June last and local people are now calling for the building to be demolished to avoid a repeat of incidents such as last night’s and before someone loses their life.
The site has lay vacant since principal, Martin Bowen, closed its gates at the end of the school term in June last.
Apex is looking to develop a 127 housing development on the site.
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