Smoke could be seen throughout the suburb and a resident two streets away told Stuff she could see flames. Fran Tyler/Supplied Eight fire appliances were at the scene of the fire, which started about 3.15pm. A police spokeswoman said they were also alerted to the fire and were on site but have since left. The former Wellington Teachers’ Training College campus has previously been a point of controversy, with retirement village operator, Ryman Healthcare, purchasing the campus from Victoria University in late 2017, after a long fight from the Ministry of Education and Wellington City Council to keep it in public hands.