Hari Hari students return to school following fire

A fire destroyed the senior block at South Westland Area School. Photo / File

Students and staff were back on deck at South Westland Area School today, five days after fire destroyed a senior block at the Hari Hari school.

Principal Ross Brockbank said two rooms smoke-damaged on Thursday were ready to be re-occupied this morning.

However, the home economics, woodwork and metalwork rooms gutted by fire would be out long-term.

The art room, senior common room and library have been converted into temporary classrooms to accommodate the school's 98 students, from Year 1 to Year 13.

"It was the senior end of the school that got damaged, but everyone's been affected in some way ... but it's good to back to having things as normal as possible," Mr Brockbank said.

Staff had used the fire as a lesson for students: "We let them see the fire damage to get rid of all the curiosity and it has generated a lot of talk on how to keep safe."

Insurance assessors were on site yesterday and had cleared the two rooms for use. The other end that had been badly burned remained cordoned off.

Board of trustees chairwoman Maree Tuinier said community members had rallied over the weekend together with professional cleaners to remove debris and dry out carpets.

"That was a really big help, without that I don't think we would have made the deadline and managed to open today," Ms Tuinier said.

Fire investigators believe the fire was started by a drier in the home economics room.

- Hokitika Guardian