Swannanoa School Destroyed By Fire

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32315, 5 June 1970, Page 24

Swannanoa School Destroyed By Fire

Fire destroyed the main building at the Swannanoa School early yesterday morning. The 2000 sq. ft, 25-year-old building contained one classroom with a cloakroom, a storeroom with school records, and the staffroom.

By the time the first fire brigade unit arrived the wooden building was ablaze from end to end. Firemen concentrated on saving an adjacent prefabricated classroom which was only slightly scorched. A school committee meeting in the school had ended about 11 p.m. At that time the building was apparently secure.

The alarm was given about 1.30 a.m. by a man returning home from work. The cause of the fire is not known. Units from the Rangiora and Cust Volunteer Fire Brigades and and an Eyre County Council water tender attended the fire.

Thirty-two pupils attend the school. The 17 senior pupils will have their lessons in a hall opposite the school, and the lower school will continue working in the undamaged prefabricated building. A hayshed on the property of Mr C. A. Macdonald, West Eyreton, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday afternoon.

The hayshed contained 3000 bales of hay which were all destroyed. The Cust Volunteer Fire Brigade, which attended the fire, was alerted at 4.30 p.m. The cause of the fire is not known.