FIRE has badly damaged the central building at the old high school hostel in Blair St, New Norfolk, more recently known as Carinya Education Park. The fire has not affected the New Norfolk Men’s Shed in the adjacent Tangara buildings.
More than 10 vehicles and a large contingent of firefighters turned out from the New Norfolk, Magra and Bridgewater fire brigades following the first reports of the incident at about 1.30am today. Several teams of police officers also responded, along with a TasNetworks crew.
Firefighting efforts were hindered by a lack of water at the site, requiring water to be ferried to the site about 100m off Blair St, along with a long hose stretching back to a street hydrant outside New Norfolk High School.
At the time of writing at 2.30am the fire has been brought under control but firefighters remain on scene to douse hot spots as they emerge.
Built as a high school hostel for the children of Hydro workers in the 1960s, Carinya has been vacant for some years since the council closed the Carinya Education Park and ceased use of the property as an emergency evacuation centre. The building is understood to be leased to the council from the state government.
The western end of the building once used as a kitchen and laundry has been destroyed by the fire and smoke was seen pouring from the eaves of the roof of the remainder of the building, which at one time served as the office of the Derwent Valley Business Enterprise Centre.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to CrimeStoppers via www.crimestopperstas.com.au or 1800 333 000.
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