A group of teens may be facing arson charges following a fire that threatened Dorothy Lynas elementary Sunday evening.
According to North Vancouver RCMP, the boys, all 13, climbed up to the top of the school’s roof and started a bonfire. At one point in the revelry, they tossed an aerosol can into the fire, which exploded, setting fire to the roof of the school’s gym. The kids fled and a neighbour called 911 around 5:30 p.m. after seeing the smoke and flames.
“The four teens were quickly identified by somebody as allegedly being responsible. They were questioned and taken into custody,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman.
District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services crews scrambled up to the roof and quickly doused the fire. The blaze mainly damaged the exterior of the roof and thankfully didn’t breach the structure, although the school’s gym suffered some water damage.
“There’s pretty significant damage. The crews had to take up some of the roofing material, but it’s just sections of metal. Luckily it was not combustible materials in the construction,” said acting assistant fire chief Dave Franco. “That’s really what kept the fire at bay.”
No one was hurt in the fire and Dorothy Lynas students were back in class, as scheduled, Monday morning.
“Repairs will now begin and the gymnasium will be closed for the foreseeable future. Staff, students and parents/guardians will be provided additional information when it is available regarding timing of the repairs to the gymnasium,” Dorothy Lynas principal Arlie Thompson wrote in a letter to parents Sunday night.
The investigation is expected to take several days but De Jong said the youths could be diverted from the court system in favour of restorative justice.
“They’re young in age. They do not have any prior criminal records. I think their intention was probably not to burn the school down, as much as throwing the aerosol can on there and it elevated to a very quick and fast-spreading fire,” he said.
The teens are remorseful, De Jong added – “very much so.”
The accused’s’ parents were none too pleased,” De Jong said.
“As one can expect, any parent (responding) to their child being charged with arson and potentially burning a school down, would not be very happy,” he said.
Drugs and alcohol were not a factor, De Jong said.
Thompson issued a thanks to the first responders and wider community for their quick action.
“I want to extend a huge thank-you to District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, North Vancouver City Fire Department (who acted as back-up) and RCMP, as well as to all of the firefighters who were on scene. A heartfelt thank-you also goes out to our local community, who alerted the fire department of the fire,” she stated.
