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Police have charged a teenager with starting a fire at Inverell High School yesterday.
About 1.30pm police and emergency services were called to a fire at a high school on Brae Street, Inverell.
On arrival, Fire and Rescue NSW officers discovered the roof of the industrial arts building to be well-alight but were able to extinguish the fire a short-time later.
All staff and students were evacuated without incident and no one was injured.
A crime scene was established and detectives and specialist police attended.
Police from New England Local Area Command began investigations into the cause of the suspicious blaze and arrested a 14-year-old girl.
She was taken to Inverell Police Station and later charged with recklessly cause damage by fire.
The girl was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Thursday, March 12
EARLIER: Police are treating a fire that has damaged parts of Inverell High School on Wednesday as suspicious.
Police believe students set a palm tree alight, which was growing beside the school's industrial arts block and the fire quickly spread to that building.
The Department of Education and Communities praised the quick and responsible action of staff and students when the industrial arts block caught fire.
All students and staff were promptly evacuated to a safe area away from the blaze and all were accounted.
The school also commended the actions of emergency services, who were quickly on the scene following a Triple-0 call.
About 1.30pm police and emergency services were called to reports of a fire at the school in Brae Street.
On arrival, Fire and Rescue NSW officers discovered the roof of the industrial arts building to be well-alight.
All staff and students were evacuated without incident and a crime scene established with detectives and specialist police in attendance.
Two units from Inverell Fire & Rescue along with paramedics also attended the blaze, which burnt through the roof of the classrooms and caused extensive damage.
Fire fighters used breathing apparatus to avoid the thick smoke from the building.
Once the site is given the all-clear by Police and NSW Fire and Rescue, the Education Department’s assets staff and contractors will assess the damage and plan for alternative accommodation and remedial work.
Parents and students of Inverell High are advised that school will be operating on Thursday using an alternative timetable.