An unattached classroom block at Tauranga Intermediate has been damaged in a fire that broke out at the school Sunday night.

Firefighters from Greerton, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui were called to a fire in an unattached classroom at the school on 18^th Avenue around 5.15pm.

Firefighters battle a fire at Tauranga Intermediate. Photos and video: Daniel Hines.

The fire, believed to have started by an electrical fault, spread through the first classroom located near the school hall, into another two classrooms.

The first classroom suffered major heat and smoke damage as the fire burned through the external walls, incinerating the curtains and damaging classroom and computer equipment.

Tauranga Senior Station Officer Mark Keller says firefighters arrived just in time to stop the fire engulfing the classroom.

'We got there just in time before it really got underway.”

The first firefighters arrived just after 5.15pm and delivered a high pressure hose to the fire.

Mark says firefighters from Tauranga worked to stop the fire spreading and were forced to open up the roof to reach parts of the fire.

'It was thick smoke. It was all one building – the three rooms suffered extensive smoke and water damage.”

The fire was started by an electrical fault within the classroom and Mark says the building was securely locked with no sign of forced entry.

'It built up a lot of heat. Flames started burning through the walls, causing the thick smoke.

'The building was very secure, there was no sign of a break in.”

No one was inside the classroom at the time, or injured in the fire.

Firefighters remained at the school checking for hot spots until around 8pm.

Four fire appliances were called to the fire.