A principal says the most heartbreaking part of a fire at her Lower Hutt school was the loss of students' work

Principal Caroline Gray said the fire at Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School in Tirohanga broke out in the woodwork room on Monday night - the first day of the school holidays.

The Fire Service confirmed on Tuesday the fire was not started on purpose.

stuff.co.nz The Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School in Tirohanga caught fire on Monday night.

Woodwork teacher Mario Gude said the destroyed work included cheese boards made by the 10 and 11 year olds through to large furniture by senior students.

All the work had been handcrafted from native wood.

Also lost were three Canadian canoes made by the students.

1 of 3 MONIQUE FORD/FAIRFAX NZ The burnt remains of one of the buildings at Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School, Tirohanga, Lower Hutt. 2 of 3 SIGURD MAGNUSSON Firefighters battle a large fire at Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School in Tirohanga on Monday evening. 3 of 3 TOM HUNT/FAIRFAX NZ The burnt remains of one of the buildings at Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School, Tirohanga, Lower Hutt.

"The community will rally around. I have no doubt about that. It's more breaking the sad news, in particular to the younger students who will feel it the most."

A Ministry of Education spokeswoman said it was an integrated school meaning the proprietor and their insurer - not the state - were responsible for paying for repairs.

Fire investigators returned to the scene on Tuesday morning.

The Fire Service received numerous 111 calls about the "well-involved" fire at the wood-working block at Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School in Tirohanga at 9pm on Monday, communications shift commander Mau Barbara said.

Fire crews went into "offensive fighting mode", he said. By midnight, the fire was extinguished.

One room in the woodwork block, near the main entrance to the school, was gutted.

At the scene on Tuesday morning, firefighters' hoses remained, as did foam and the smell of an extinguished fire.

Assistant area commander Mike Dombroski, who attended the fire, said the conditions were challenging for crews.

"They could only get one appliance [fire truck] up the narrow driveway, so all the resources had to be moved up by foot."

Nearby hoses and buildings were never under threat, he said.

The school has a roll of more than 350 students, ranging from early childhood to year 13 students. There is one class for special needs students.

Did you seen the fire? Send any photos or video to news@dompost.co.nz.