Head teacher thanks community after tanker fire

2 hours ago

Andy GiddingsWest Midlands

News image — Rachel Cook said the local community had "rallied together"

BBC A woman with blonde hair and glasses on the top of her head in a dark blue jacket and grey and white scarf in the street with three fire engines behind her — Rachel Cook said the local community had "rallied together"

The head teacher of a primary school which was evacuated because of a large fuel tanker fire has thanked the local community for their help.

Firefighters were called to Marlborough Way in Telford on Tuesday lunchtime and found the lorry alight with burning fuel running down the street.

Rachel Cook said she was "delighted" with the response of her children and staff, who were given shelter at a nearby supermarket, pub and gym until parents could collect them.

She also said she felt "really heartened by the community spirit, we had people coming out of houses with blankets, offering support".

Cook said when the smoke from the fire was first spotted "we were having one of our normal lunchtimes".

After going to investigate, she first brought the children in from the playground, but after talking to the emergency services, decided it was best to take them off the site.

The primary school and nursery had between 450 and 500 children attending that day, aged between two and 11.

She said: "I was delighted with how the children remained calm, the staff remained calm and we followed our procedures to the letter."

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service The blackened shell of a lorry in a street covered in white foam, with a cream coloured house in the background and a lamp post and fence in the foreground — Marlborough Way was closed and people were told to stay indoors while the fire was burning

As well as thanking nearby residents, Cook thanked the emergency services and Puregym, the Grazing Cow, Lawley nursery, Lawley Academy and Morrisons, who all offered support and shelter.

"People in the community really have rallied together," she said.

Parents have praised the school online for its handling of the situation and she replied to say: "Thank you parents for trusting us with your children during this stressful time."

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service Five firefighters in light brown overalls and yellow helmets holding yellow hoses in a street with traffic lights and a large fire in the background — Firefighters said burning fuel from the tanker was running down the hill when they arrived

The school reopened on Wednesday morning and Cook said teachers would be talking to the children about the fire and offering "reassuring circle times".

She also suggested parents talk to their children about the fire and reassure them the school was safe.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has not yet said what caused the fire, which took five hours and crews from nine fire engines to extinguish.

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