School closes after powerbank in bag causes fire

A secondary school was closed following a fire believed to have been caused by a powerbank in a student's bag which damaged part of the building.

In a social media post, Scott Barlow, the headteacher of Sir William Robertson Academy in Welbourn, Lincolnshire said the blaze was put out by a teacher and nobody was injured in the incident on Monday.

Following an investigation by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service the school has banned pupils bringing portable charging banks or aerosols into the school.

The school has partially reopened to most years, but with Years 8 and 9 studying online from home.

In the Facebook post Barlow said the fire broke out in the school's Reflection Room.

"I would personally like to thank our staff and students for the calm and mature way in which they responded," he said.

"Our evacuation procedures were followed meticulously, and the response of the school was commended by those attending the incident.

"I fully appreciate that the early closure today caused disruption for parents and carers. Thank you for your patience, understanding and support."

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said two crews were called to the school at just after 10:00 BST on Monday.

"The fire was out when crews arrived and no one was injured, although one room suffered some damage," the spokesperson said.

"A subsequent fire investigation determined that a lithium-ion battery had ignited while charging.

"Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in everyday devices. To reduce the risk of fire, use the correct charger, avoid charging devices unattended or overnight, and stop using batteries or devices that are damaged."

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