Fire crews tackle shipping container fire at former Sunderland school

Two fire crews from Sunderland central attended to the scene on Mowbray Road in the Ashbrooke area of Sunderland, shortly before 5pm on Sunday, September 27.

A shipping container, located at the rear of the former Ashbrooke School, was alight when firefighters from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) arrived and it has since been brought under control.

It is understood that the shipping container is used by St. Aidan’s School to store sports equipment, with the school regularly using the playing field behind The Cloisters apartments.

An investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the blaze is now underway.

It has also been confirmed that no one was injured during the incident but the extend of the damage is unknown at this time.

Jez Hilton, the watch manager for TWFRS at Sunderland Central said: “We received a call at 16.52 this afternoon (Sunday) to a shipping container, utilised for the storage of sports equipment by St. Aidan’s School, on fire.

"Two fire crews have been involved, with a through search conducted to ensure that no one was injured in the incident. An investigation is now underway to establish the cause of the fire.”

A spokesperson for TWFRS added: “There are two crews from Sunderland central currently at the scene dealing with the fire and it remains an ongoing incident.”

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