Former school building 'severely damaged' in suspected arson attack

An investigation has been launched after a fire at a closed-down school in Aberdare caused severe damage. Aberdare Girls' School was a state secondary school for girls aged 11 to 18 before it closed in July 2014.

Fire crews were called to a blaze at the building shortly after 9pm on Monday, May 20. Crews from Aberdare, Ferndale, and Merthyr Tydfil attended the fire. They left the scene shortly before 11pm and an investigation into the cause is now under way.

Local historian Arran Rhyidian Davies said: "Thankfully the fire crews managed to save the entire building from being destroyed. It happened hours after the building was finally closed off with window boards and added security measures.

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"This building has stood for 107 years and in a matter of hours it almost got taken to ash. The utmost respect goes out to those who reported the incident and the firefighters for doing an excellent job in saving the rest of the building."

A spokesman for the South Wales Fire and Rescue said the building had been "severely damaged" and the fire was "deemed to be deliberate". The school was founded as an intermediate girls' school and the building was opened in 1908.