School blaze caused by sun on perspex canopy
Shaun Whitmore/BBCA fire which badly damaged a school was caused by refracted light on a perspex canopy.
The blaze damaged three classrooms at Thomas Bullock Primary Academy in Shipdham, near Dereham, Norfolk, when it broke out shortly after 14:00 BST last Thursday.
Oliver Burwood, chief executive officer of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, said a perspex canopy at the front of the school had caught light and the fire had spread to the building.
He said the damage meant the school could not reopen as planned on 3 September, and remote learning would take place for at least a week.
Jamie Niblock/BBCDuring the blaze, 10 fire crews were called to the scene.
Burwood said: "[The fire] was accidental and related to the extreme hot weather.
"We can now share that it was caused by refracted light on playground furniture, which then spread to the premises.
"The 'furniture' in question here was the perspex canopy in the reception outdoor area at the front of the school.
"This is obviously a highly rare occurrence, but we have shared this information with the Department for Education as thousands of schools across the country have similar such structures and the risk as now evidenced is increasing with the hotter summers we are experiencing."
Shaun Whitmore/BBCMore stories on Norfolk fires
He added: "We have all been deeply saddened and shocked by the situation and we know many of you and the children will feel the same. We will ensure that when children come back on site it is safe and that the most significantly damaged areas are screened."
The fire was one of a number of incidents attended by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service on 13 August, and a major incident was declared due to the "significant pressure" on resources.
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