The cause of a blaze in a Northern Southland College prefab building yesterday morning is being investigated by fire safety officers, but it is thought it was caused by an electrical fault.
Fire crews from Lumsden, Balfour and Mossburn were called to the Lumsden school just after 9.30am after smoke was seen pouring from a prefab building, used as the year 13 common room.
Lumsden Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Owen Patterson said when fire crews arrived at the scene the fire appeared to have ''smothered itself out'' because all the doors and windows were shutWhile the Lumsden brigade waited for back-up yesterday, senior boys from the school helped out by running fire hoses from the appliance to the hydrant.
Mr Patterson said it was a ''good save''.
School principal Trevor McKinlay said there was no-one in the building at the time and there was no risk to pupils or staff.
''We're proud of our young people, the way they got out according to all of the drills they do ... there was no drama really.''
