Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart asks: Did fire-hit Park Primary School in Invergordon have sprinklers?
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A NORTH MSP is demanding an urgent meeting with council bosses about fire safety measures in public buildings following a blaze at a Highland school.
Monday’s fire at Park Primary in Invergordon comes just two months after David Stewart highlighted the need for sprinkler systems in all Scottish schools at First Minister’s Questions.
Highland Council has said it believes the fire broke out when an older Fujitsu laptop, being used by a teacher and two pupils, ignited. The school was gutted but no-one was hurt.
A major investigation is under way by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to determine the cause of the fire and the council has reported itself to the Health and Safety Executive.
But in the meantime, questions are being raised about the speed in which the fire took hold.
Labour politician Mr Stewart has asked the council to set the record straight on where sprinklers are fitted in the region’s schools.
The council refused to say if Park Primary had a sprinkler system but the severity of the blaze suggests it did not, or it was broken.
Mr Stewart raised serious concerns in December after being alerted to issues raised by the fire service that 66 primary and secondary schools faced a high risk of fire.
As a result, he wrote to the fire service and the council to find out what schools were on that list.
Mr Stewart said he only received a reply from the council last Friday.
“The replies have thrown up a discrepancy between what the fire service has told me and what has come back from the council,” he said.
“I am therefore in the process of setting up an urgent meeting with council and fire service officials to get to the bottom of this.
“I am passionate about bringing in greater fire safety measures in public buildings and know that sprinkler systems can help limit the damage and save lives.
“I will not be letting this go, but I cannot say more until I talk to both organisations in an effort to get the facts straight.”
Education committee councillor Ron MacWilliam said many questions needed answering. He added: “No-one seems to really know anything about the fire and the circumstances surrounding it.
“Councillors need to be given a proper briefing, and as a member of the education committee, we need to know how we are moving forward.
“I will be seeking detail on what happened and how we can take urgent steps to ensure it does not happen again. It is a priority that we know what happened so that we can tell the public that we are confident that pupils and staff are safe.”
When asked about the use of a sprinkler system at Park Primary, a council spokesman said: “We cannot comment on specifics as this is an active fire investigation.”
Some 120 Fujitsu computers are being removed from use by the council.
A Fujitsu spokesman said: “Fujitsu is aware of the incident and, if asked, will be co-operating in any investigation into the matter.”
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