A large amount of asbestos has been discovered in an abandoned school which caught fire yesterday but the Fire Service says nearby residents are in no danger.
Fifteen fire engines battled the blaze for about two hours after flames engulfed a hall at the former Petone Technical College campus last night.
The roof and external cladding were seriously damaged in the blaze, senior station officer Rob Sullivan said.
The ceiling had asbestos through it, but calm weather lessened the risk of the dangerous substance being blown from the scene.
"All the fibres are kept wet, which is literally the fix-it...you keep it all wet and that stops any fibres from becoming airborne," he said.
