Student ‘stable but critical’ following fire inside Wingham, Ont., high school

A student is in critical condition after being set on fire at F.E. Madill Secondary in Wingham Tuesday morning.

Police are confirming that it was a person on fire that prompted emergency services to race to a high school in Wingham, Ont., Tuesday morning.

Fire crews arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m. to find a student on fire at F.E. Madill Secondary School. The crews quickly extinguished flames and contained the blaze to one hallway of the school, police said.

“It was an individual on fire. Unfortunately, they suffered life-threatening injuries. They are in stable condition, but still critical. And they were airlifted by Ornge EMS to a trauma centre,” explained OPP Const. Evan Polini.

In an email to parents, F.E. Madill senior staff acknowledge that, “some students witnessed the incident as they were arriving, and we have arranged for the school board’s Tragic Events Response Support Team to be with students to provide support as needed.”

Madill students were temporarily moved to a neighbouring school before being sent home for the day.

In an update late Tuesday afternoon, OPP say John Street East and Summit Drive surrounding the school have been reopened. Huron OPP and the West Region Forensic Identification Services have released the scene back to Avon Maitland District School Board.

Senior staff confirm that F.E. Madill will be closed for the rest of this week, and could be closed “possibly longer depending on site rehabilitation.”

Online learning for Madill students will start on Wednesday morning.

“Investigation is still ongoing in relation to how the fire started. It’s an unfortunate event. Thankfully, fire and EMS were on scene quickly, along with Huron OPP officers, and everything’s under control now,” said Polini.

Police are requesting anyone with video footage related to the incident not to distribute it and to contact them by calling 1-888-310-1122 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

A statement from the school board

The Avon Maitland District School Board released a statement about the fire, saying “An incident involving a fire occurred earlier today at F.E Madill Secondary School. Students were safely relocated to Maitland River Elementary School. We are assessing the damage that the fire caused in order to determine when students and staff can return to the school. A student and staff member were reportedly injured and are being treated in hospital. Mental health support is being offered to both staff and students.”

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