Fire rips through roof of Bolton primary school as smoke billows from sports hall
A FIRE is ripping through a primary school with smoke spotted billowing from its sports hall.
Emergency services raced to the Manchester school this morning after reports the blaze had broken out.
The fire is said to have started ripping through SS Simon and Jude CE Primary School at around 8.30am.
It is understood crews were still working to battle the blaze at Newport Road, Bolton around midday.
The school’s Simon Bramwell, who is the CEO of Vantage Multi Academy Trust, said they still didn’t know how bad the damage.
However, he said the “important thing” is everybody got out safely.
Bramwell told The Bolton News: “We don’t know how bad it is yet. The fire is in the roof space, and until it is under control we won’t know how bad it is.
“The fire brigade were very quick to respond. It was spotted quickly by the school’s caretaking staff and nearby builders on site.
“Everybody got out safely.”
He added: “There is going to be significant damage, we will have to examine the structure of the roof once the fire is extinguished.
“We will keep parents informed.
“As far as we know, none of the classrooms have been affected other than smoke damage.
“The important thing is that everybody got out and nobody was hurt. The fire brigade have been fabulous.”
School headteacher, Katie Jones, dubbed the blaze “heartbreaking”.
She said: “It’s quite emotional. SSSJ is where myself, Simon and Liz Peacock started together in 2008.
“It has a special place in our hearts.”
Witnesses said swarms of fire engines were gathered outside the school, as they tried to put out the raging fire.
Photos also show clouds of black smoke filling the sky.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) told The Sun: “At 8.30am on Thursday 17 August, fire crews were called to reports of a fire at a school on Newport Road, Bolton.
“Ten fire engines from across Greater Manchester were quickly mobilised to the incident. The fire initially involved the roof space of the school hall.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reels to extinguish the fire. Road closures remain in place.”