Fire departments extinguish roof blaze at Port Colborne high school

Fire crews from Port Colborne, Pelham and Wainfleet spent the better part of this morning (July 28) dousing a roof fire at Lakeshore Catholic High School in Port Colborne.

They were called to the fire at 8 am but said they could see smoke as they left the fire hall on the opposite side of the Welland Canal.

A Niagara Catholic District School Board communications officer said there were 16 students on site for summer school but they have been shifted to a parking lot almost 100 metres away from the scene.

The students were eventually shuttled to the Vale Health and Wellness Centre to wait for their parents.

It is suspected that a work crew on the rooftop inadvertently started the blaze which took two hours to extinguish. None of the work crew, students or teachers on site were injured.

Damage to the school was called substantial by fire officials.