UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Firefighters from across the Isle of Wight are this morning (Friday) tackling a large blaze at the site of the former Broadlea Primary School in Lake, which has been engulfed by flames.
Fire crews were called to the Island Learning Centre at around 00:05 following reports of a fire, which is believed to have started in a mini bus before spreading to the nearby single-storey building.
This exclusive photograph shows the moment the van burst into flames.
6 appliances are currently on the scene at Manor Road.
UPDATE @ 01:15 – The building has been completely gutted by the fire, which has spread easterly with the wind.
Firefighters are conducting visual checks of nearby trees which are at risk of catching light.
No one has been injured in the incident, the cause of which is currently unknown.
UPDATE @ 02:20 – Two water carriers from Ventnor and Freshwater have arrived at the scene alongside an aerial appliance from Newport.
The building has been completely destroyed, with flames being seen by Islanders from miles around.
The aerial appliance is applying water to the fire from above, however the blaze has spread over a significant distance.
UPDATE @ 03:30 – A total of 8 pumping appliances, two water carriers, an aerial ladder appliance, the foam salvage tender, a breathing apparatus support van and the Incident Command Unit are now all on scene.
The blaze continues to burn and parts of the building are still collapsing, however firefighters are successfully preventing the fire from spreading to nearby woodland and houses.
Police are also in attendance at the scene, however it is currently unknown if the fire is being treated as suspicious at this early stage.
Engineers from Southern Gas Networks and from Southern and Scottish Energy are working to disconnect supplies to the school.
It is anticipated that fire crews will remain on scene for the majority of the day.
The Island Learning Centre is a merger of Clatterford Tuition Centre and Thompson House and provides education to students who are unable to access mainstream education for a variety of reasons.
UPDATE @ 09:27 – The fire has been extinguished and crews continue to dampen down the scene.
This post has now been superseded – latest information at http://www.islandecho.co.uk/news/daylight-reveals-destruction-to-lake-school.
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