<\/p>\n
\nSmoke seen from the field at St Kentigern College in Pakuranga.
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
A two-storey classroom block at Auckland’s St Kentigern College in Pakuranga caught fire on Wednesday afternoon, leading to a full school evacuation.<\/p>\n
About 20 firefighters attended the incident after Fire and Emergency said they were called to the school on Pakuranga Road about 1.30pm.<\/p>\n
A FENZ spokesperson said firefighters saw a “large plume of smoke” coming from the building when they arrived.<\/p>\n
Students and staff were evacuated onto the sport fields as a precaution.<\/p>\n
The school confirmed there were people inside the classroom when the fire started, but nobody was injured<\/p>\n
A station officer at the Howick fire station, John Carpenter, said the fire started in a hopper for collecting sawdust, within the technology\/woodworking block of classrooms.<\/p>\n
He said it’s believed that a nail head may have been caught in the hopper, and started a spark.<\/p>\n
Carpenter said the fire was put out within five to ten minutes, and the classroom has only had minor damage.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the college said senior students were able to start their exams at 2pm despite the brief disruption.<\/p>\n
The school could not confirm the extent of damage done to the classroom block.<\/p>\n