Headteacher shares experience of school fire to raise awareness

Head Teacher Lorna Blanchenot talked about the devastating 2020 fire that destroyed Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School in Mickleover, Derby at BAFSA's 2025 annual conference last week ( November 6th) with head of the National Fire Sprinkler Network Terry McDermott. 

It was an emotional and hard-hitting conversation which demonstrated the wide-spread impact that school fires have not just on school buildings but on the wider school community. 

In this short film which was shown at the conference attended by 140 BAFSA members, Adam Bleakman, one of the incident commanders on the night - talks us though the events as they occurred.  

In the end it took 12 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms to bring the blaze under control. Everything inside the school was either damaged or destroyed. An 18-year-old man was later charged with arson in connection with the fire.

Watch the video below