Hunter fire fighters had a busy night after separate blazes broke out at Tighes Hill TAFE and a Telarah business.
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Building D at the campus was damaged in what has been described as a “minor fire incident” by TAFE.
Footage circulating of the fire show flames lapping at second floor classroom windows.
Several people were reportedly forced to evacuate the TAFE when the blaze broke out about 8pm.
In a separate incident the GE Power Services site, situated behind the Hunter Trade College at Telarah, went up in flames.
About 8.20pm emergency services were called to one of the office buildings to find a “well advanced fire”.
The inferno took 24 fire fighters from four stations, assisted by six members of the Rural Fire Service, to bring it under control.
“It was a very hot and difficult fire,” NSW Fire and Rescue duty commander Paul Collis said.
“We used an aggressive internal attack and were successful. Fire fighters did an exceptional job.”
The cause of both fires is under investigation. The fire affected the refrigeration and welding workshops. Those were the only areas of the campus impacted and remain closed.
A representative from TAFE NSW said the organisation would be assisting police and Fire and Rescue NSW with the investigation.
Classes have resumed on campus and there are hopes that the site could be deemed safe within days, so students and staff can return to the building.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald MLC said he had been to a preliminary briefing on the fire at TAFE Tighes Hill campus.
"TAFE management and Assistant Minister for Skills the Hon. Adam Marshall MP are being updated on the response to the fire.” Mr MacDonald said
“Minister Marshall has informed me there will be a full assessment once it is safe to undertake.
"I can give impacted TAFE staff, students and campus community an assurance from the NSW Government the site will be made secure as quickly as possible; a building assessment will be completed promptly and plans for repairs or rebuilding will be drawn up straight away."
“I trust everyone is safe and sincerely thank the Hunter emergency workers for their rapid response.”
Jessica Brown
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
