Firefighters have managed to save around 80% of a school building after a blaze broke out this morning.
Forty firefighters were called to Park Primary School in Invergordon shortly before 7am.
Eleven appliances, including a high-reach unit and a command support unit, were sent to the scene on Albany Road.
The significant blaze took hold in a two-storey building, with “flames through the roof”
07:03 📟 Invergordon mobilised to a fire at Park School, this is an ongoing incident with a large amount of resources assigned, please avoid the area to allow further fire appliances the space to get close to the incident. Thank you.
— Invergordon Fire Station 🏴 (@InvergordonFire) February 27, 2021
Police Scotland have confirmed the road itself is closed, along with Joss Street and Cromlet Drive, while fire crews tackle the blaze.
A fire service spokeswoman said: “We got the call to Albany Road, Invergordon at 6.59am this morning.
“Eleven appliances, including a command support unit and a high-reach unit, are at the scene.”
A spokeswoman added: “The incident is still ongoing with firefighting in two different areas.
“A two-storey building, about 50m x 20m was well alight with flames through the roof.”
As of 12.15pm four appliances remained at the school, checking the scene and continuing to dampen down.
A Police spokeswoman added: “Emergency services are currently in attendance at a fire in Albany Road, Invergordon.
“Police were made aware of the fire around 7am this morning,
“A number of roads are closed, including Albany Road, Joss Street and Cromlet Drive.
A number of surrounding roads have been closed due to ongoing fire at #ParkPrimary #Invergordon @InvergordonFire @northernPolice
— The Highland Council (@HighlandCouncil) February 27, 2021
Speaking this afternoon, Invergordon Councillor Maxine Morely Smith praised the efforts of the fire crews.
She said: “Absolutely well done to the firefighters, they were there very very quickly. It was a strange and early time for it to start.”
She added: “At the moment it’s looking like 80% of the building has been saved.
“We don’t know the cause yet as engineers can’t get on-site until it’s all dampened down.
“The school was about to reopen in the next few weeks, it couldn’t really have happened at a stranger time (almost a year to the day of the last fire at the school).
“I’m appealing for calm and calling on people not to speculate.
“We will keep parents and children informed and my heart goes out to those families who were about to send their children back to school.”
An investigation into the blaze is set to take place, according to Highland Council.
Fencing is in place around the site, with people asked to stay away.
Pupils from Park Primary have been attending Invergordon Academy since a fire ripped through the school last February.
Chair of the Education Committee Cllr John Finlayson said: “Our main concern is supporting pupils and teachers who may be affected by this news almost a year to the day from the fire at Park Primary.”