AROUND 100 students were evacuated from a Sheffield College site when a fire broke out in a toilet block.
The blaze at Castle College on Olive Grove Road was reported at 12.30pm yesterday and 100 students and staff members were evacuated.
Firefighters said the fire was only small but produced an ‘amazing’ amount of thick black smoke which filled part of the building. Four fire engines were sent to the scene because of fears the blaze had spread to the ceiling.
Watch manager Steve Womack said the cause was still under investigation but it is believed the blaze started after a toilet roll holder in the gents’ loos was set alight – causing plastic casing to go up.
He said: “It caused a massive amount of thick black smoke which damaged the room and the ladies’ toilets next door.” As a safety precaution the college was evacuated, a police spokeswoman said.