Fire erupts at St Ignatius’ College Riverview – leaving $500,000 in damage

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Prestigious Sydney private school suffers $500K damage after its shed went up in FLAMES – after a line marker was charged overnight

  • Storage shed at St Ignatius’ College Riverview went up in flames on Thursday
  • Sixteen fire trucks were called to the blaze that ripped through the barn
  • Fire and rescue investigators said a line marker charged overnight started a fire

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A line marking machine that had to be charged overnight caused a massive fire that caused $500,000 in damage to one of Sydney’s most prestigious private schools.

The massive fire at St Ignatius’ College Riverview, on the north coast, broke out at about 3:45 a.m. Thursday in a 60-by-20-metre work shed.

Sixteen fire engines arrived on the scene with shocking images showing the barn completely engulfed in flames.

A line marker (pictured) that was charging overnight is blamed for a major fire at a Sydney school on Thursday

A line marker (pictured) that was charging overnight is blamed for a major fire at a Sydney school on Thursday

The massive fire at St Ignatius' College Riverview, on the north coast, broke out at about 3:45 a.m. Thursday in a work shed measuring 60 by 20 meters.

The massive fire at St Ignatius' College Riverview, on the north coast, broke out at about 3:45 a.m. Thursday in a work shed measuring 60 by 20 meters.

The massive fire at St Ignatius’ College Riverview, on the north coast, broke out at about 3:45 a.m. Thursday in a work shed measuring 60 by 20 meters.

Paint cans, paint thinner, gasoline and a service vehicle were all scorched when the fire ripped through the roof of the service shed.

Photos of the scene also show the line marking completely charred, as well as the barn entrance and interior.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze from multiple sides and had the blaze under control around 5:30 a.m.

No one was injured in the incident and no evacuations were necessary.

The school, which includes former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and 2GB radio host Ben Fordham, continued classes as normal on Thursday as HSC students took their math exams.

Fire and Rescue NSW investigators determined that the line marker had started the inferno.

FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the St Ignatius School fire is a reminder that calling 000 for a fire alarm could mean the difference between life and death, or a building or other property being saved or destroyed.

The massive fire at St Ignatius' College (pictured) caused an estimated $500,000 in damage

The massive fire at St Ignatius' College (pictured) caused an estimated $500,000 in damage

The massive fire at St Ignatius’ College (pictured) caused an estimated $500,000 in damage

The fire started around 3.45 am on Thursday in a work shed measuring 60 by 20 meters (photo)

The fire started around 3.45 am on Thursday in a work shed measuring 60 by 20 meters (photo)

The fire started around 3.45 am on Thursday in a work shed measuring 60 by 20 meters (photo)