Northern Bay College students in limbo as fire reignites at Hendy St campus

Uncertainty surrounds the year’s end for some Northern Bay College students as firefighters returned to the Hendy St campus on Wednesday after the fire reignited.

Firefighters returning to Northern Bay College’s Hendy St on Wednesday morning. Picture: Alison Wynd.

                      

Uncertainty surrounds the year’s end for some Northern Bay College students as firefighters returned to the Hendy St campus on Wednesday after the fire reignited.

A Department of Education spokeswoman confirmed the campus would remain closed for at least the remainder of this week as clean-up works continued following the fiery Tuesday morning blaze that led to the arrest of a 13-year-old girl.

“Arrangements are in place for staff and students to attend the Peacock campus with classes resuming today,” the spokeswoman said.

Firefighters returned to Northern Bay College’s Hendy St campus on Wednesday morning. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Corio resident Lauren Upston, who has two children at the Hendy St campus, said parents believed grades prep to six would return as soon as possible and before year seven and eight students.

She said that was designed “to keep things stable for the younger kids”.

However, it remains unclear how soon they could return given the widespread damage caused by the fire – 60 per cent of the campus was impacted.

Ms Upston said she was shocked to see the fire reignite on Wednesday morning as children were being loaded onto buses bound for Peacock campus in Norlane.

“I dropped the kids off at the school buses at 8.45am and there was smoke coming from the building,” she said.

“They thought it was just smouldering, but it got worse”

Firefighters returned to Northern Bay College Hendy St campus after reports of smouldering from a fire the previous day. Picture: Alison Wynd

Northern Bay College posted photos on Facebook of students from both Hendy and Peacock campuses studying together.

“Peacock campus welcomes our Hendy campus friends,” the post read.

“Students are happily learning, meeting new friends and have made a great start.”

A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said crews were called to the incident on Hendy St just before 9am on Wednesday after a caller to triple-0 reported a building fire.

“Firefighters arrived on scene to find a small fire that had reignited,” he said.

A nearby resident said she looked out her bedroom window to see smoke coming from the school’s roof.

“I said to the hubby, ‘I think the school’s on fire again’,” she said.

The scene was deemed under control at 9.10am.

A police spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing, with the 13-year-old girl expected to be charged on summons.

Originally published as Northern Bay College students in limbo as fire reignites at Hendy St campus