Firefighters tackle huge blaze at derelict school as people told ‘avoid’ area

Dozens of firefighters were called to the massive blaze

Firefighters were called to a huge blaze at a former school in a town close to the Cambridgeshire border with smokes being seen in the county. The fire broke out on Tuesday (May 12) at the former Parkway Middle School in Haverhill at around 8.20pm.

Crews from Woodbridge, Orford, Haverhill, Wickhambrook, and Bury St Edmunds attended with 12 fire engines used. Other crews from Sudbury, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Clare, and Long Melford were also called to the scene later in the evening.

Huge clouds of smoke could be seen for miles including in Linton. Residents in Haverhill were advised to “keep all windows and doors shut” and not to travel towards the scene unless it was essential.

Fire crews remained at the scene throughout the night and worked to control the fire while the building was collapsing. As of this morning, several fire engines were still at the scene to extinguish the blaze.

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