11-year-old suspect charged with Noorvik School fire

TAMAR BEN-YOSEF

February 22, 2008 at 12:01PM AKST

An 11-year-old boy was charged with arson following a fire to the boys’ bathroom in the Noorvik School on Jan. 5, according to a Feb. 12 report from the Alaska State Troopers.

The boy, whose name has not yet been released, was also charged with third-degree criminal mischief and reckless endangerment for what appears to be an intentional prank.

"We smelled smoke that we thought was coming from outside the building," said Doyle Horton, the school’s principal.

"We started looking around from inside and outside, and the maintenance man found fire coming from boy’s bathroom," he said.

Horton said most of the materials used for the school’s construction are fire retardant and prevented the fire from quickly spreading around the room and into the school’s hallways.

By the time it was discovered, the fire had pretty much extinguished itself, according to Horton.

Alaska State Troopers who arrived on the scene following a call from the school found that the student had lit a wad of paper towels on fire and threw it on the counter by the sinks.

The fire spread to a nearby soap dispenser and caused mainly heat and smoke damage to the wall and ceiling and melted a plastic light cover. Damages were estimated at about $15,000.

Most of the repairs were made soon after the event, according to Horton.

The school houses about 200 students and 35 staff members. It prides itself with many activities and opportunities for student involvement.

Some programs include accelerated reading, reading buddies and "busy baker" – a program the student who set the fire was involved in where students earn credit for after school time spent baking treats for various programs around the community.

Though the student has been known around the community for mischievous behavior, he had no history of criminal dealing, according to Horton.

"We have no idea why he did this," Horton said of the student.

"I think it was just something that happened at the spur of the moment," he said.

The boy was taken into custody and lodged at the Nome Youth Facility until adjudication.

Tamar Ben-Yosef can be reached at (907) 348-2419 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 419.