Five youths charged with setting fire to former school in New Liskeard

Five teenagers, ages 16 to 17, have been charged in connection with a massive fire that consumed a former school in New Liskeard last week.

Arson charges have been laid against four 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old in connection with a huge fire last week in northern Ontario.

The blaze at the former École Sacré-Coeur school on Lakeshore Road in New Liskeard broke out around 1 p.m. June 19.

Nearby houses also damaged

Police closed the road between Padget Street South, Market Street, Dymond Crescent and Farah Avenue for much of the day and crews were on site overnight.

Residents living near the fire were asked to leave the area and some homes were damaged as a result of the blaze.

Ontario Provincial Police announced that evening that the fire was believed to have been set deliberately.

“The Temiskaming OPP, in collaboration with the Temiskaming OPP crime unit and the North-East Forensic Identification Services, have conducted an investigation which has resulted in several youths being charged,” police said in a news release Thursday.

Two 16-year-olds, one from Kirkland Lake and another from Casey Township, have been charged with arson, mischief over $5,000, break and enter and common nuisance endangering life.

Another pair of 16-year-olds, one from Englehart and another from Temiskaming Shores, and a 17-year-old from Harley Township, were charged with break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence.

All young offenders were released and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice at a future date in 2025 in Haileybury.

Anyone with information related to the fire at the school is asked to contact the Temiskaming OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.