Possible arson at Whakatane Intermediate School

Firefighters clean up after a blaze ruined two classrooms at Whakatane Intermediate School last night.

Whakatane Intermediate has had a bad start to the school holidays after a fire caused considerable damage to at least two classrooms tonight.

Whakatane fire chief Ken Clark said multiple 111 calls had been made and firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control quickly.

Before they arrived an orange fireball could be seen from some distance away and numerous bangs and the sound of glass breaking resulted in neighbours backing away from the blaze.

Fire trucks from Whakatane, Ohope and Edgecumbe were called to the scene and a fire safety officer had also been requested.

The fire started about 6pm and took 30 minutes to bring under control.

As news of the fire spread, teachers and students began to arrive at the school.

Principal Doug McLean had just arrived at the school when the Rotorua Daily Post caught up with him.

"I'm shocked and angry after being told the fire was deliberately lit," Mr McLean said.

"I'm not too sure what's going on yet or how bad the damage is - I was told it was in the RTLB (Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour) class and that's about all I know at this stage."

He said the school would undoubtedly be working hard to ensure everything was as close as possible to back-to-normal when students returned after their holidays.

One teacher, who did not wish to be named, fought back tears as she said it was the worst start to the school holidays.

A fire service communications spokesman said one classroom and an adjoining building were badly damaged by the fire and an investigation was underway into its cause. He could not confirm that the fire was deliberately lit.