UPDATED: Fire investigators are conducting an examination to determine the cause of the fire.
EARLIER: Fire crews are battling a ‘significant’ blaze which has engulfed ‘several areas’ at Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania’s north this afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Tasmania Fire Service told Pulse the centre has been evacuated, with a “potentially large area” currently alight.
He said upon arrival, emergency services found the lounge area and other external areas to be on fire.
Crews from Deloraine, Westbury and Rocherlea are currently on the scene working to extinguish the fire.
In a recent budget estimates hearing, it was revealed that the number of children at the centre was 19, according to Children and Youth Minister Roger Jaensch.
Jaensch referred to this figure as being “historically high.”
