Two mountain rescue team members were taken to hospital after an oxygen canister exploded during a training session at Glossopdale School. 

Kinder Mountain Rescue Team, with the support of Glossop Mountain Rescue Team, were holding the session on Sunday morning (22 May) at The Place - which the school lets out for community groups to use. 

An oxygen canister, used by medical professionals to give patients oxygen, exploded and caused a small fire. 

Two people suffered burn injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Both have now been released from hospital. 

Firefighters from Glossop and Chapel-en-le-Frith stations were called to the site on Newshaw Lane shortly after 9.30am. 

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was contained and prevented from spreading thanks to the presence and activation of a sprinkler system. 

They added that an investigation into the cause of the fire has determined it was accidental.

Due to the incident, the school opened at 11.30am on Monday for all students, apart from those sitting exams earlier in the morning. 

The Place was closed for the rest of Sunday and reopened to bookings on Monday evening. 

Writing to parents and carers, Glossopdale School head teacher Debbie McGloin said: "Thank you for your support with the later opening of school on Monday. 

"As a school we were very lucky that the room they were in was divided by the partition sliding doors. These fire-resistant doors prevented the fire from spreading further, along with the water sprinklers that were immediately activated. The sprinklers released a lot of water which consequently flooded the PE changing rooms, several offices and other rooms on the ground floor.

"The team on site at Glossopdale spent the day removing carpets and clearing out the rooms of water damaged items. However, we needed to ensure that this was complete before the students arrived on Monday morning, hence the later start.

"School is now up and running as usual with just one section of the school where the fire started out of action until repairs can be made.

"I would like to thank students for their excellent conduct around the building and commend them for their sensitivity and understanding. It was a highly unfortunate accident but, once again, our students, our staff and the wide community responded with generosity, kindness and support." 

Derbyshire's Chief Fire Officer Gavin Tomlinson, who is also the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Protection and Business Safety Scrutiny Committee, said: “Nationally through the Fire Chiefs Council and locally across Derby and Derbyshire we have been campaigning for a change in legislation that would ensure all new schools and those undergoing refurbishment in England are fitted with sprinklers.

“Sprinklers not only extinguish or contain a fire until the arrival of fire crews, but they prevent the devastating impact on young people’s education, the community and the high costs of rebuilding as a result of fire.”

According to Zurich Insurance, the average fire risk for schools is almost double that of other non-residential buildings.

In Scotland and Wales, there is a legal requirement to fit sprinklers in new build schools.

In November 2020, following three significant accidental and deliberate school fires, Derby City and Derbyshire County Council both signed a ‘Statement of Intent’ to fit sprinklers and the right fire safety measures in new build schools and primary and secondary schools undergoing significant renovation, refurbishment, or extension.

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