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PORT TALBOT: Children evacuated as fire breaks out at Awel y Môr Primary School

Children at a holiday playgroup were safely evacuated after a fire broke out at Awel y Môr Primary School in Port Talbot on Wednesday morning.

Flames and thick black smoke could be seen pouring from an upper section of the school building, where scaffolding is currently in place, shortly after 10am.

Crews from Port Talbot, Neath, Swansea Central, Morriston and Swansea West fire stations were called to the school at 10.10am, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.

The fire took hold within the school’s sandwich panels — the insulated panels used in the building’s walls.

A spokesperson for the fire service said crews used four breathing apparatus sets, two hose reel jets, a turntable ladder and a water bowser to extinguish the fire, and left the scene at 12.43pm.

A spokesperson for Neath Port Talbot Council said: “Following a fire at Awel y Môr Primary School, we can confirm that everyone is safe and unharmed.

“A Flying Start play group was in a different section of the school when the fire started and the building was promptly evacuated.

“Work is now underway to identify the cause of the fire and to repair the damage, with a view to ensuring the building can be brought back into use as soon as possible.”

With schools closed for the summer, no pupils were in lessons — but the Lots of Tots holiday playgroup was running in a separate part of the building, which the group says was left undamaged.

Playgroup staff evacuated the children before crews arrived, with no one hurt.

In a post thanking its team, the group said: “A massive thank you to the staff for their calm and professional evacuation of the children and ensuring everyone’s safety.”

The playgroup will stay closed for the rest of this week, with staff returning on Monday to deep clean its rooms and carry out risk assessments — and the hope of reopening on Tuesday morning.

Sandfields East councillor Sean Pursey said photos circulating showed the fire taking hold near the school’s main hall, adding: “Thankfully all staff and children are safe.”

Aberafan Maesteg MP Stephen Kinnock, the Welsh Secretary, urged people living nearby to keep clear of the area and close their doors and windows while crews worked, thanking the fire service and staff “for keeping everyone safe”.

Benjamin Hodge McKenna, Reform UK MS for Afan Ogwr Rhondda, said he was “deeply concerned” to hear of the fire, noting that all children and staff were safely evacuated with no injuries.

“I will do what I can to ensure support is in place for the school as they assess the damage,” he said.

The cause of the fire has yet to be established.

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