Classrooms destroyed in late-night blaze at Walsall school where flames spread quickly
An investigation has been launched after four classrooms were destroyed in a late-night blaze at a school.
Around 30 firefighters fought the blaze at its height when the primary block at Abu Bakr Al-Ihaan Academy in Wednesbury Road in Palfrey, Walsall, caught fire on Friday.
The school said security staff phoned 999 after spotting the flames and smoke at about 11.15pm and that the flames very quickly spread causing damage to the roof of a number of adjoining rooms.
No-one was hurt during the incident.
Abu Bakr Al-Ihsaan head, Hardeep Saini, said: "I want to praise the great efforts of the firefighters to limit the fire to just the primary school block. The impact could have been disastrous for the whole site.
"Initial assessments indicate that a total of four classrooms were made unusable by the fire and will need significant repairs and refurbishment to bring them back into use.
"This included specialist art and information and communication technology (ICT)."
Mr Saini added that alternative arrangements, classroom changes and curriculum changes had been made so school could reopen to children as usual on Wednesday.
The school said fire crews arrived on the scene within minutes and fought for several hours to douse the flames using water jets and an aerial ladder.
It added that West Midlands Fire Service was investigating the cause, but the incident is not being treated as suspicious.
A total of of seven fire engines were at on the scene at the height of the blaze.
The school which comprises primary and secondary blocks re-opened to Year Seven and Reception classes on Wednesday with the remaining year groups due to return as scheduled on Thursday.
"We also wish thank our on-site staff, school parents and the local community who have contacted us with offers of help and support," added Mr Saini.
Walsall Council leader Garry Perry has since paid a visit to the school to see the extent of the damage for himself.
"I was sad to learn of the fire on Sunday morning and was keen to show support for the staff. I had been kept updated on the developments and I visited at the first opportunity I had. I was very sorry to learn of the loss of the classrooms especially the specialist Arts and Craft and the ICT room.
"I was pleased to see the alternative arrangements that the Abu Bakr Trust has made. I also wish to extend my praise to the West Midlands Fire Service crews who attended to the fire on Saturday night.”
The trust's manages four independent schools and a mosque. The first school was launched in 1998.
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