Second school ravaged by flames in 48 hours in Derbyshire

The blaze broke out in the early hours of Monday morning
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
5 October 2020

An infant school in Derbyshire was gutted after flames ripped through the building — the second school fire in the county in 48 hours.

Emergency services were called to Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School in Mickleover in the early hours of Monday morning.

Firefighters were still battling the flames at 8am, as residents were warned to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke.

Gavin Tomlinson, chief fire officer at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue service, said most of the school had been destroyed in the blaze.

It came 48 hours after flames ripped through St Mary’s School in Darley Abbey, just under four miles away.

Mr Tomlinson tweeted: "Shocked and saddened that Derbyshire has seen a second devastating school fire in the same weekend. Crews from @DerbyshireFRS have been firefighting throughout the night.

“Tragically most of the infant school lost. Will work with @NFCC_FireChiefs to make new schools safer.”

Lorna Blancenot, head teacher at Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School, said she did not know the cause of the fire.

She told Derbyshire Live: "I am devastated by it. I am just in shock I suppose. I was here at 2am and I've been here since then. We notified all the parents of the infant school and the junior school at 5.30am.

"This is an authority school so we will be in touch with the local authority and we will work with them to co-ordinate a plan to support the children here. We have no idea what caused it at the moment."

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