Former student charged over school fire

UPDATE, 12PM TUESDAY: THE full extent of the damage caused by Monday night’s arson attack at Cowra High School has begun to emerge, with authorities confirming the blaze was contained to the administration building and library thanks to the rapid response of firefighters.

Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Superintendent Peter Murray said firefighters arrived about 10 minutes after Triple Zero (000) calls were received shortly after 7pm, finding the administration office well alight.

“It was a substantial fire. The damage was extensive to that part of the building,” Mr Murray said.

“Crews worked pretty hard and were able to, fortunately, contain it to that part of the building.”

A 17-year-old boy allegedly filmed the fire as it took hold before later boasting about lighting the blaze on social media | Images: Supplied

Mr Murray said firefighters brought the blaze under control within 30 minutes of arriving, preventing it from spreading further across the campus before remaining on scene into the night to ensure it was fully extinguished.

Images taken the morning after the fire show visible smoke staining and fire damage to sections of the administration building, with parts of the facade blackened following the blaze.

The high school remained closed on Tuesday, with students beginning Term 3 through online learning as the school faces an uncertain timeline for reopening.

The fire caused extensive damage to the school’s administration building | Image: Facebook/John Porter

The fire caused extensive damage to the school’s administration building | Image: Facebook/John Porter

A 17-year-old former student accused of lighting the blaze was arrested at a home in Cowra about 10pm on Monday.

Videos and voice recordings obtained by The Junee Bulletin allegedly show the teenager filming the blaze as it took hold before later boasting about breaking into the school and lighting the fire on Snapchat.

He was charged with a list of serious offences and refused police bail to appear in a children’s court on Tuesday.

Local MP Steph Cooke praised the efforts of emergency services, particularly firefighters and police, for preventing what could have been a far more devastating outcome.

“At this stage, we understand the damage is confined to the administration building and the library,” Ms Cooke said.

“I want to commend the school’s leadership and staff for ensuring learning continued online today as students returned from the school holidays.

“While the safety of students and staff remains the priority, it is too early to determine when the school grounds will be able to safely reopen.”

Ms Cooke said she had contacted the relevant NSW ministers seeking support for the school community, including assistance for students and staff and resources to help repair the damage and reopen the school as quickly as possible.

The fire caused extensive damage to the school’s administration building | Image: Facebook/John Porter

FIRST: COWRA High School will remain closed on Tuesday after part of the campus was engulfed in flames following an apparent arson attack on Monday night.

Emergency services were called to reports of a structure fire at the school on Dowell Street shortly after 7pm on July 20, with firefighters arriving to find part of the administration block well alight.

Emergency services on the scene of the fire on Monday night | Image: Facebook/John Porter

Police allege the fire was deliberately lit by a 17-year-old former student of the school.

A Snapchat video obtained by The Junee Bulletin shows the boy standing outside the administration building filming the blaze as it took hold, while appearing to revel in the destruction.

“Look at that shit burn, boys. Look at this, the administration office… look at that b**** burn,” he can be heard saying.

A teenage boy filmed himself revelling in the destruction as the flames spread through the school’s administration office | Images: Supplied

A separate Snapchat voice recording, also obtained by The Junee Bulletin, allegedly captures the same boy later boasting about how he allegedly entered the building before lighting the fire.

“They left the whole f****** back part on the top open on A Block,” the boy says.

“So we just climbed up on the second floor and then we f****** went in, and them sliding doors, you can pull right open. That’s what we did, and then just lit the packages they had sitting there and f****** whatever else.”

Multiple Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Rural Fire Service crews responded to the incident, with firefighters working for nearly two hours to extinguish the blaze.

Police and NSW Ambulance paramedics also attended, though no injuries were reported.

A NSW Police spokesperson said the fire caused extensive damage to the administration block.

“Smoke damage was also sustained to other buildings within the school grounds,” the spokesperson said.

A crime scene was established and, following inquiries, the 17-year-old was arrested at a home in Cowra about 10pm.

He was taken to Cowra Police Station and charged with destroy or damage property by fire or explosion (more than $15,000), commit an offence under Section 112(1), disseminate material, and break and enter with intent to destroy property valued at more than $60,000.

The teenager was refused bail and is due to appear before the Children’s Court on Tuesday.

Due to his age, he cannot be identified.

The fire comes less than 24 hours before students were due to return for the first day of Term 3.

In an email sent to parents late Monday night, principal Anthony Hamer confirmed the school would remain closed on Tuesday, with students unable to return until the site is deemed safe.

“This fire has caused damage to some areas of the school, and we are currently working to have the entire school site safe for the return of our staff and students,” Mr Hamer said.

“This means students will not be able to access the school site on Tuesday … the safety of our school community is our number one priority.”

Classes will instead resume through online learning in the interim, with the school expected to provide a further update to families on Tuesday afternoon.