TEENAGERS put themselves in danger after setting fire to a former school.

Around 20 firefighters tackled the blaze at the former Ivy Bank High School in Burnley for more than three hours after flames swept through the second floor.

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Crews from Burnley, Padiham and Hyndburn attended the Byron Street site when the fire spread from a classroom into a large hallway.

The fire service said youths were thought to have set wooden lockers alight before leaving the building.

Their actions have been branded as extremely dangerous, with a leading firefighter saying setting fire to buildings was neither ‘clever or funny’.

The site has stood empty since 2006 after the school merged with Habergham High School to form Hameldon Community College.

Councillors have called for anti-social behaviour to stop at the site, describing it as a ‘black spot’.

Dave Robinson, watch manager, said a group of youths were seen running away from the building shortly before the fire started on Tuesday night.

He said: “It started in one of the classrooms. The integrated wooden lockers were at the centre of where the fire looked to have started and from there it spread into the hallway.

“We cannot stress enough how dangerous and unpredictable these buildings can be.

“Those who go in there at night do not know anything about its structural integrity.

“Floors and walls could collapse with any sort of pressure on them or there could be hazardous materials lying around.

“Setting fire to buildings isn’t clever or funny. Flames can spread very quickly and people could become trapped.

“Lives could be lost with actions like this.

“It also put our lives in danger because of where the fire was and with the layout of the building it was difficult to get to.

“We had to carry the breathing equipment, the jets and our heavy gear up to the second floor to get to the fire, so we were put in a threatening position.”

The 25-acre site, owned by Lancashire County Council, was put up for sale for an undisclosed fee in February.

At the time, real-estate company CBRE said the site had been earmarked for homes.

Ivy Bank was initially a girls high school and became a mixed comprehensive in 1981.

Cllr Neil Mottershead, who represents the area on Burnley Council, said the building needed to be used or demolished to stop anti-social behaviour.

He said: “Ever since it closed there have been problems there.

“Quite a few people have been seen going in to the building and the fire service has been called regularly.

“The copper and lead from the building have been taken by thieves, it’s become a bit of a black spot.

“Without a doubt it needs looking after or it needs tearing down because it is dangerous for people to be in there.

“The fires won’t stop until something is done about it.”

A police spokesman said officers would liaise with the fire service to help in their investigations.