The main hall of the abandoned heritage-listed Claremont Primary School in Hobart's northern suburbs has been saved after fire destroyed an adjacent building.
Crews from Hobart Fire Brigade and Claremont Volunteer Fire Brigade were called to the blaze at the old school on Cadbury Road about 3:30pm on Thursday.
Hobart senior station Officer Mike Netherton said one building was already 30 per cent engulfed by flames when they arrived and was too dangerous to enter.
While that building was destroyed, the fire was contained before it spread to the school hall.
"Firefighters have done an excellent job and managed to contain the fire to that area and prevented any spread into the main hall, which I believe is heritage listed," Mr Netherton said.
Firefighters positioned themselves on the roof of the hall to try to prevent flames spreading through the ceiling.
"There is some damage in the gable roof directly next to where the fire building was but firefighters have taken some iron off the roof and also gone into the roof space internally through the building just to make sure that that fire didn't extend and damage the rest of the building," Mr Netherton said.
The fire spewed thick smoke over the surrounding suburbs and could be seen from Hobart's CBD.
The school has been the subject of a number of small arson attacks before.
Firefighters believe this fire was also deliberately lit.
A fire watch is expected to be maintained overnight.
