Parramatta: Arthur Phillip High School students return January 30

Students will return to Arthur Phillip High School at Parramatta tomorrow despite a fire that ripped through part of the school on Monday morning.

Students can expect to return to school tomorrow. Picture: Dean Asher

• Arthur Phillip’s skyscraper delayed
• Another school fire at Parramatta

Students will return to Arthur Phillip High School at Parramatta tomorrow despite a fire that ripped through part of the school on Monday morning.

The incident at the Macquarie St school was less than a year after a blaze destroyed Parramatta Public School in the same street.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined but police said they did not believe it

was suspicious.

Firefighters rest after battling the blaze on Monday morning. Picture: Dean Asher

Investigators have taken samples from the classroom and said the fire was likely an accident.

They confirmed it started in a classroom where most of the damage occurred while classrooms on the third and second levels sustained extensive smoke damage.

Firefighters were alerted to the incident about 12.15am.

Paramedics treated three firefighters for heat stress with one firefighter was taken to hospital.

Principal Lauretta Claus was alerted to the fire via a text from the deputy principal at 4am.

“Another fire,’’ she said.

Police confirmed the fire was in one classroom but caused severe smoke damage to two others. Picture: Dean Asher

“Some person had nothing else to do yesterday (Sunday night), unfortunately.”

Ms Claus was yesterday due to meet fire inspectors to survey the damage but said minimal disruption had been caused.

“School will be as normal so it’s good news,’’ she said.

“We’re just trying to get the electricity connected.

“Obviously I had to find out what the extent of the damage is but the school’s a very resilient community and I’m sure there’s going to be rooms we’re not going to be able to access for the children.

The fire was not started in suspicious circumstances, police say. Picture: Dean Asher

On May 19, the two-storey Parramatta Public School on Macquarie St in Parramatta was engulfed in fire.

Three men were arrested after an extensive investigation of the blaze.

The blaze caused disruptions for primary school pupils but also some of the 1200 high school students.

A total of 350 Arthur Phillip Year 7 and 8 students learn are at the former Rowland Hassall School site at Macquarie St.

Disruptions have plagued Arthur Phillip High School.

Last week, the Parramatta Advertiser reported how its 17-storey skyscraper school built opposite the original building at Macquarie St, is behind schedule and will open at least in term four instead of early this year.

The cost for the project, which includes Parramatta Public School, blew out from $225 million to $325 million.

But Ms Claus said she understood the project was not behind schedule.