St George's School in Blackpool will open today amid concerns for air quality after nearby fire

A school in Marton will open today amid air quality concerns after a huge blaze at a nearby industrial park yesterday (March 2).
By Matthew Calderbank
Published 3rd Mar 2020, 07:38 BST
Updated 3rd Mar 2020, 07:43 BST
St George's School in Cherry Tree Road will open today after air quality tests were carried out this morning to measure the level of smoke from a fire in nearby Cowley RoadSt George's School in Cherry Tree Road will open today after air quality tests were carried out this morning to measure the level of smoke from a fire in nearby Cowley Road
St George's School in Cherry Tree Road will open today after air quality tests were carried out this morning to measure the level of smoke from a fire in nearby Cowley Road

St George's School in Cherry Tree Road confirmed it will open as normal today after an air quality test was carried out by the fire service at 6am.

Pupils had been sent home early yesterday afternoon because of concerns about thick smoke from a large fire in Cowley Road, less than half-a-mile away.

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Children left at 3pm and the school said it would only open today (Tuesday, March 3) as long as pupils would not be affected by reduced air quality.

The Cowley Road fire caused huge clouds of thick, black smoke to loom above the Vicarage Lane area yesterday (March 2). Pic: Stephen CheatleyThe Cowley Road fire caused huge clouds of thick, black smoke to loom above the Vicarage Lane area yesterday (March 2). Pic: Stephen Cheatley
The Cowley Road fire caused huge clouds of thick, black smoke to loom above the Vicarage Lane area yesterday (March 2). Pic: Stephen Cheatley

A site inspection has taken place taken place this morning and the fire service has said the school is safe to reopen.

Yesterday, pupils were kept inside at lunch due to thick clouds of smoke and low visibility after a fire at an industrial unit off Vicarage Lane.

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Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service visited the school at 2.30pm to assess the air quality following a change in wind direction.

A number of buildings caught fire yesterday (March 2) after a fire which began in an industrial unit in Cowley Road, off Vicarage Lane in MartonA number of buildings caught fire yesterday (March 2) after a fire which began in an industrial unit in Cowley Road, off Vicarage Lane in Marton
A number of buildings caught fire yesterday (March 2) after a fire which began in an industrial unit in Cowley Road, off Vicarage Lane in Marton
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Fire chiefs then advised the school that all pupils and staff should leave at 3pm due to low air quality.

Firefighters remain at the scene of the fire in Cowley Road this morning, where the incident has been scaled down to eight fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms.

The fire has been brought under control but crews are still on site to prevent it from spreading to further units.

Related topics:Blackpool

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