‘Well-engulfed’: Students evacuated as Auckland primary school roof goes up in flames

Students at an east Auckland primary school have been told to evacuate after the roof of a two-story building caught fire.

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) arrived at Cockle Bay Primary School after receiving multiple calls at about 2:45pm on Tuesday.

According to a FENZ spokesperson, two fire trucks and an aerial appliance attended the scene before a second alarm was called, requiring further resources.

A support vehicle and additional aerial appliances were then dispatched.

“The roof of a two-story building is well-engulfed and crews are working to extinguish it,” a FENZ spokesperson told Newshub.

The building has been evacuated and hundreds of people can be seen waiting outside the school grounds.

Witnesses told Newshub that the fire appeared to have started in the toilet block between rooms seven and eight, which had recently undergone renovations.

Several parents are waiting outside the main gate to collect their children.