Black smoke

[emza78]

Masses in the sky, looks very bad, where's it coming from?

[fireangel]

looks like bessemer school area

[adelle f]

I'm by the big sansburys and looks super close!

[Tanday]

Looks pretty bad from east dulwich station.

[Vik]

Looks like behind Dulwich Hamlet from here, can hear a helicopter hovering close by too. Hope no-one's at risk.

[Mrs_Glennie]

Looks bad here on top of Denmark Hill, is it coming from ED or Herne Hill?

[minder]

Think it's the old Bessemer reception building, which is across the road from the main building - very sad.

[fireangel]

been told old empty nursery at bessemer grange school

[millymoll]

I understand vandals have started fires in that unused building before.

[Saila]

confirmed - a school's on fire according to MPSinsthesky

[Vik]

It has been targeted a fair bit, windows are often smashed. Sad indeed.

[Jessie]

It may not be vandals! Whatever the cause, hope no one is hurt and will not impact any children on Monday. So much smoke - have had to close the kitchen window.

[Vik]

My son's just come past it, said there are flames and smoke pouring through the roof and police are there.

[HannahMackinnon]

yeah its the nursery

[Tom Micklewright]

here are some pictures I just took.

Tom

[millymoll]

The nursery has been empty for some time since the new building was finished on the main site so it shouldn't impact on the

children too much, though a horrible thing for them to see. Jessie, you're right it may not be vandals, especially in this weather. However, I was talking to a teacher from Bessemer recently (my kids went there some years ago) and she was pretty much expecting it to be destroyed as there had already been so much damage done to the empty building.

[James Barber]

BBC news website states vacant Denmark Hill estate community building.

[elsie]

A closer picture of the old Bessemer nursery

[Alex K]

From smoke to stench -- the evening air here on Abbotswood Road has that reek of wet burnt.

[KalamityKel]

As usually results a fire. I'm sure you'll survive

[uncleglen]

I was surprised at how black it was- usually indicates oil or other rich carbon source.

[Alex K]

Oh, KalamityKel! How waspish you become when the bottle is left within your reach! I did survive, and I am happy that I did, so that I might receive your just rebuke.

uncleglen, yes; consensus on the St Francis estate was that someone had set tyres alight. Of course the consensus was wrong, but the dark, thick character of the smoke brought that possibility to the fore for observers here.

[minder]

The roof of the old Bessemer building was flat and was covered in asphalt and bitumen for as long as I can remember (I was taught in this building and my own three children) so that probably explains the reason for the thick black smoke.

Husband saw the flames yesterday which were so intense. I was there after Police had taped it off.

Some photos taken after the fire and yesterday.

[minder]

Taken yesterday showing the new Early Years building.

Last photo shows the original entrance to the old building taken today.

[bubsst]

Hi All,

These photos may be distressing.

I Noticed that none of you have actual photos of the fire itself so for anyone who wanted to see the damage the pictures are attached. I noticed the thick black smoke as my partners nan lives on Dylways and the stench was horrific, we decided to drive down and the heat was so much you could feel it in the car. We got there just after the fire fighters arrived at the beginning of the fire. Its such a shame and we hear that police are investigating what started it as it was a Saturday afternoon/evening and only one key holder was in the area at the time.