Schools urged to install sprinklers after spate of fires

HEAD teachers have been urged to install sprinklers after South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue attended 59 school blazes in two years.

Many of the incidents — including 12 in Rotherham — were bin and grass fires deliberately started on school grounds.

But others involved buildings - including Edlington Comprehensive School, which was destroyed by fire in 2009 (pictured) - prompting SYFR to issue the warning.

Technical fire safety manager Amy Jenkinson said: “When you consider the huge costs associated with a school fire such as rebuilding, temporary relocation, loss of equipment and pupil’s academic work, it seems like an obvious move to install a sprinkler system, but many schools still don’t.

“Above everything else, sprinklers give added protection to the pupils and staff at the school, and the firefighters who respond to tackle the fire.”