A multi-million-dollar damage bill is expected from a fire at a Catholic college in Hobart's northern suburbs on Monday afternoon.
Fire crews from four stations were dispatched to fight the blaze at Guilford Young College in Glenorchy, with a "high fuel load of cars, machinery components and timber" making fire-fighting efforts more difficult.
The fire sent a plume of smoke billowing into the air, resulting in a smoke alert being issued for the area.
A Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) spokesperson said the college's trade and training centre was well alight when crews arrived.
TFS said there had been "significant damage to the building", with crews from Hobart, Glenorchy, Bridgewater and Clarence, along with an "aerial appliance", employed in the operation.
TFS Regional Chief Jeremy Smith said crews were called to the fire around 4:20pm.
"The building has a high fuel load of cars, machinery components, timber stacked throughout the building," he said.
Mr Smith said crews had also been "struggling to get sufficient water" to fight the fire.
Mr Smith said one firefighter had been treated for heat stress, but added there were no other injuries to report.
Nearby residents were urged to take care due to the smoke in the area.
He put the initial estimate of damage as being in the "multi-millions" of dollars.
Guilford Young College will be closed on Tuesday.
Mr Smith said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
"We have Tasmania Police … taking witness statements, We've got the regional fire controller on site already doing some prep work in as far as the investigation goes."
