Dunmow: Fire Engulfs School

16 July 2012, 06:15 | Updated: 16 July 2012, 07:39

Around 50 firefighters have been working through the night to put out a fire at a school in Dunmow.

Crews were called to Felsted School just after 7pm last night (Sunday July 15th.) to find the blaze had spread across two floors and the roof.

Divisional Officer Ray Skinner said: "We have been hampered throughout this incident by a poor water supply, we are using the high volume pump to get water from a lake around half a mile away.

"Firefighters have been working extremely hard in difficult conditions. On arrival crews were faced with a large and well established fire which has spread inside the building which is now completely alight.

"Our work will continue here throughout the night and into the morning."

The building was not entirely empty when the fire broke out. Around 25 students were staying in there, although not in the same part of the building where the fire started, and all were safely evacuated by staff at the school before the Service's arrival.

A full investigation will be carried out to find out how the fire started.