AN ELECTRICAL short circuit is suspected to have started a fire which burnt down part of Wynberg Boys’ High School early Thursday.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Theo Layne, said the fire started at around 1am yesterday and severely damaged a section of the school.
“The fire occurred in one section of the school, in one of its academic wings. The second floor was damaged and the third-floor roof extensively damaged,” Layne said.
There were no injuries as the school was empty at the time, he added.
Firefighters took about four hours to completely extinguish the blaze.
“At the moment we have identified the probable cause as an electrical short circuit,” Layne said.
Principal Jan de Waal said the fire broke out in one of the academic blocks and gutted four classrooms and an office. A further four classrooms below the main fire received extensive water damage.
“The cause of the fire is being investigated,” he said.
Pupils will stay at home today while the damage is being fully assessed, he added.
“Matric engineering, graphics and design, and art students can come to collect their PAT and practicals via only the front entrance of the school to work from home,” he said.
De Waal thanked the Fire and Rescue Services, police and traffic services for their assistance.