By CASEY NEILL
SPRINGVALE Rise Primary School’s 101-year-old campus was nearly no more after fire broke out just days before students returned to the classroom.
The CFA determined the blaze started in the electrical switchboard cupboard about 4.30am on 27 January and was not suspicious.
Firefighters from Springvale, Dandenong and Brandon Park worked quickly to contain the fire to the foyer and roof space.
The primary school’s principal Annette Hilton said the CFA and police crews involved were “absolutely magnificent”.
“We were very lucky because the firemen said if it had been another three to five minutes there would have been no building at all,” she said.
“The building will be 102 years old in March.
Once a fire gets into the roof of old buildings…
“Another couple of minutes and there would have been no school left.”
The campus’s 270 students returned from summer holidays on Wednesday 29 January.
“Everything was right for their total return, so it hasn’t impacted on the students at all,” Ms Hilton said.
But she said the fire had left the Springvale Road campus without an office area and the school running on generators.
“It’s an unusual start to the year,” she said.
“We’re just using part of the old staffroom as the office at the moment.
“We’ve been very unlucky, but also very lucky to receive such wonderful support.
“People have been fantastic, working 24-hours to make sure the buildings were safe and clean.”
She’s unsure when administration staff can return to the office area.
“They’re still assessing the damage,” she said.
“It’s totally burnt-out, actually.
“The roof and floors need replacing and the whole switchboard’s gone.”
The building’s age will be a key factor in the rebuild.
Ms Hilton said care was being taken to ensure its heritage value remained.
“We’re conscious of trying to keep the renovations with the way it was,” she said.
“The restorers have been in to make sure the refurbishments don’t lose the character.”
