YOBS who had just burgled a school and torched buildings dropped their loot and fled when a passing fire crew stopped to investigate after seeing the smoke.
The firefighters were on their way back to base in Staveley, near Chesterfield, when they noticed fire had broken out at Netherthorpe Comprehensive School in Ralph Road, Staveley.
The crew managed to put out the flames before they could take hold
and cause serious damage.
Watch manager John Cooke, of Staveley fire station, said: "We managed to get there just in the nick of time. Had we been any later the small fire - which was between portable buildings, could easily have developed and possibly spread to the main school, causing major damage.
"Fortunately, this was not the case."
Mr Cooke said his crew was returning from dealing with a rubbish fire at Mastin Moor when they saw smoke coming from the outbuildings, at about 3am on Saturday.
He said: "As we approached, we saw three to four lads, two on BMX bikes, running and riding away across the playing fields towards Mastin Moor.
"They had dropped a DVD player on the ground, which we believe was taken from one of the classrooms.
"I think we had disturbed them in the act."
Mr Cooke said five or six windows had been smashed.
Firefighters remained at the scene until police arrived.
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