Fire closes South New Brighton School, investigators and police at scene

A Christchurch school will not open its doors on Monday after a blaze ripped through three classrooms last night.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) shift manager Riwai Grace said they received multiple calls in relation to a fire at South New Brighton School about 6.40pm.

"Crews arrived to find three classrooms and one part of an office block well ablaze."

A second alarm was used to call more firefighters to the Estuary Rd school.

At the fire's peak, seven fire trucks were used to battle the flames.

The fire was under control by 7.30pm, Grace said.

The school posted on Facebook it would be closed on Monday.

"A huge thanks to staff and community for offers of support," the post continued.

"If anyone has information please contact us privately or the police on 105."

Ally Morris lives nearby and was among those who saw her childhood school go up in flames.

"I heard the chopper first, because we have that new chopper in the city, so I heard that circling - whether that was related to it or not I don't know."

Sirens followed soon after.

She praised the quick response of firefighters, saying the fire trucks just kept "rolling up one after another".

It was amazing how quickly the flames leapt from the back of the classrooms towards the front of the property, she said.

"There were massive flames."

People in the community had gathered to share their sadness, she said.

"Everyone was really sad and just saying how devastating it was."

Nobody was in the way of emergency services, people were being "very respectful" in that regard, she said.

A scene guard was in place overnight. Police and Fenz investigators were at the scene this morning.