Fire service called to Derby secondary school as pupils evacuated
The fire service were called to a Derby school and its pupils were evacuated. The incident took place at Murray Park Community School, Mickleover, on Thursday (January 16) morning.
The school's headteacher has since issued a statement saying the evacuation was in response to concerns over the smell of smoke in an area within the school. Headteacher Nicola Caley said: “The fire service attended school this morning following concerns over the smell of smoke from a light fitting.
"Pupils were evacuated for a short time while a fire crew ensured the building was safe. Lunchtime was adjusted slightly to ensure all children could still have access to a meal and learning was not affected.”
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A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 11.05am on Thursday, Firefighters from Kingsway and Nottingham Road attended Murray Park Community School in Mickleover following reports of smoke in the building.
"On arrival, crews found a small amount of smoke in a communal area. All persons in the school were accounted for and evacuated. On investigation, the most likely cause was an overheated light fitting.
"Crews isolated the electrics and handed the school back over to the caretaker. Firefighters left the scene at 11.54am."
It is the second time the fire service has been called to the school - which houses more than 1,000 pupils - in the last four months. The fire service attended the school on Saturday, September 28, after a fire alarm was triggered, prompting Mrs Caley to send a message to parents.
The statement, issued on Monday, September 30, read: "We had a small fire in school on Saturday which, thanks to the quick actions of the caretaker and staff on-site supervising a Duke of Edinburgh activity, was contained to a single office."