Girl, 15, lit on fire at Saskatoon high school, staff injured trying to help

By The Canadian Press on September 5, 2024.

A Saskatoon Police Service badge is shown on an officer's uniform in Saskatoon, Sask., on Friday, May 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

SASKATOON – A 15-year-old girl is in hospital with serious injuries after she was lit on fire at a Saskatoon high school, police said Thursday.

Sgt. Ken Kane told reporters that a school resource officer, who was at Evan Hardy Collegiate for a different matter, apprehended a 14-year-old girl as a suspect.

He did not say how the victim was lit on fire or the extent of her injuries.

Saskatoon Public Schools said staff members who tried to help the injured student were also hurt and sent to hospital. It said the suspect is also a student.

The school was closed for the rest of the day, and classes were cancelled for Friday.

“This incident resulted in serious injuries to the student and to the staff members that intervened. The injured persons were transported to hospital,” a school division spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

“We are grateful to the Evan Hardy staff for their immediate response and acknowledge it was a traumatic incident for the entire school community. We are providing supports to students and staff.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2024.