Horror fire rips through UK school as engulfed building collapses overnight

Fire crews have battled through the night as a major blaze saw part of a former school building collapse. Crews have been on the scene at Parkway Middle School in Haverhill since 8.20pm on Tuesday, May 12. The service received more than 60 calls from horrified members of the public as a massive plume of black smoke rose above the town, visible for miles around yesterday evening. Nine fire crews, from Woodbridge, Orford, Haverhill, Wickhambrook and Bury St Edmunds first attended the blaze as the sun was setting yesterday, after calls flooded in from residents. At 9.35pm, three additional fire engines had to be called in to help bring the inferno under control, the East Anglian Daily Times reported. Residents were instructed to keep all their doors and windows shut as the public was warned to avoid the area as the huge team of firefighters worked overnight. At 10:13pm the service said in an update: "The building has partially collapsed with 90% of it involved in the fire. Crews are making good progress on site." Reports from the scene at around midnight described a large multi-agency presence at the derelict former school, with a building partially collapsing in the flames. However not everyone appears to have heeded the warning to stay away. Commenting on social media in response to the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s post, Michelle Chambers said: “I can't believe the amount of people who went to watch. All that potential toxic smoke.” Shortly after 6am this morning the service issued an update, saying: "Firefighters have worked through the night to bring the fire under control. While there are still a number of fire engines at the scene of the former school, numbers are now down to 4 at the site, with 3 on their way over."