Large sections of the school have been gutted by flames, as firefighters continue to add water.
Large sections of Deniliquin High School have been destroyed by fire, with emergency services still on scene as we publish.
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The most visible damage is in the building at the corner of Wellington and Henry St, with the Henry St corridor and the section wrapping around to the school oval visibly gutted by flames.
It is unclear on viewing the damage from the outside what impact the fire has had on the rest of the connected corridors and classrooms.
A photo of the blaze sent in by a neighbour of the school.
The section most impacted contains rooms that have been traditionally used for mathematics, design and technology, science and English, and the high school library.
Nearby residents have reported hearing loud bangs as the fire was at its worst, with flames leaping high up into the air as the blaze took hold.
Firefighters are battling strong winds of up to 40km/h this morning as they continue to add water into some of the classrooms backing onto the school oval, with a water tanker being used to keep up supply as needed.
Large sections of the school have been gutted by flames, as firefighters continue to add water.
Police and firefighters are both on scene, as is Essential Energy.
A large section of Wellington St has been cordoned off, and there is no access to Henry St while emergency services continue their important work.
The Fire + Rescue NSW media team has told the Pastoral Times this morning the fire was initially reported about 12.45am.
Firefighters arrived to see intense flames in what has been reported to the FRNSW media as the “metal rooms”, and fire was already impacting on other parts of the building.
Firefighting crews from surrounding towns were dispatched to provide assistance, with early estimates that there may have been 50 firefighters and 10 trucks on scene at its peak.
A specialist aerial firefighting service out of Albury was also assigned to the blaze.
The Rural Fire Service provided its bulk water tanker, with Edward River Council assisting with access to water.
The FRNSW media team reported one firefighter was injured during the incident, and was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The firefighter’s home station could not be confirmed.
The blaze was brought under control about 4am, but an incident controller and emergency services are expected to remain on scene for some time.
Large sections of the school have been gutted by flames, as firefighters continue to add water.
Residents are asked to stay away from the area as emergency services continue their efforts.
In a social media post this morning, Deniliquin High School staff have expressed their sadness.
“We are deeply saddened by the catastrophic fire at school overnight,” the post reads.
“As we know more, we will communicate with our school community.
“We thank the many firefighters, emergency services, police and ambulance personnel who assisted on site.”
Images of the fire at its peak, supplied by a PT reader who lives near the school.
Images of the fire at its peak, supplied by a PT reader who lives near the school.
Images of the fire at its peak, supplied by a PT reader who lives near the school.
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