Help comes for fire-hit Christchurch Polytechnic

Christchurch business and tertiary providers have come to the aid of the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology as it struggles to relocate students after this week's campus fire.

CPIT acting CEO Margaret Pierson said the polytechnic would be taking up offers of classroom and office space until the two blocks affected by Tuesday's fire were re-opened.

A clean-up in the basement of the nursing block where the fire started began yesterday.

Ms Pierson said early reports indicated there was not a lot left that was salvageable. Some of the paper records would be saved but the majority would be destroyed. Overflow furniture which had been kept in the basement was also no longer useable.

There were art works stored there as well, but these had not been damaged.

She said it was the first time staff could remember courses being shut down for longer than a half day.

"We have had half day closures for floods or storms. But this will go on for weeks rather than days."

Both N and S block were expected to be out of operation until July. Students would return to the Madras St campus on Monday and be told where their classes would be held until renovations were completed.

The Fire Service has completed an investigation into the cause of the fire. CPIT management expect to see a copy before the end of next week.

- CHRISTCHURCH STAR