Children taking part in a holiday playgroup were evacuated safely after a fire broke out in the main building of Awel Y Mor Primary School in Port Talbot on Wednesday morning.
Swift evacuation and multi-station response
Staff running the Lots of Tots holiday club, which was using a separate part of the school during the summer break, moved quickly to get the youngsters out of the building before fire crews arrived. Witnesses reported heavy smoke and large flames coming from windows of the school, where scaffolding is currently in place.
Crews from four fire stations — Port Talbot, Neath Swansea Central, Morriston and Swansea West — attended the scene, with firefighters using breathing apparatus, hose reels, a turntable ladder and a water bowser to tackle the blaze. The fire service reported that crews left the site at around 12:43pm once the incident was under control.
Impact on services and next steps
The Flying Start Lots of Tots programme has confirmed it will remain closed for the rest of the week while an assessment of the damage is carried out. The group thanked staff for their handling of the situation and said a reopening date will not be set until a full inspection has taken place.
"Following the fire in the main school building, we'll remain closed for the rest of this week. We'll assess the damage and plan for the safe return of children and staff to the undamaged playgroup," the Lots of Tots statement said.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service described the fire as being within the school's sandwich panels and confirmed the resources and tactics used to extinguish it. At present there is no indication in the statements released that anyone was injured.
What parents and local residents need to know
- The Lots of Tots holiday club will be closed for the remainder of this week while damage is assessed.
- Parents should await direct communication from Flying Start or the school for arrangements about cared-for children and any alternative provisions.
- The area around the school may have seen emergency activity; residents should follow any local instructions from authorities.
Local councillors and education officers have not yet issued statements publicly; any further updates from the school, Flying Start, or the fire service will be important for families affected by the closure.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 10:10am | Fire service called to Awel Y Mor Primary School |
| Shortly before arrival | Evacuation of Lots of Tots playgroup completed by staff |
| c. 12:43pm | Crews left the scene after extinguishing the fire |
I will continue to follow up with the school and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service for any further details on the scale of damage, the likely timescale for reopening the playgroup and any support being offered to affected families. For now, the key facts are that the children were evacuated safely and that fire crews brought the blaze under control within a matter of hours.
