A terrifying incident unfolded at Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon on Thursday when a 15-year-old girl was doused in a flammable substance and set on fire. The incident left the victim with serious injuries and sent shockwaves through the school community. Police say a teacher was also injured trying to intervene.
According to police, emergency calls were received around 12:30 p.m. reporting an assault and a fire at the school. The incident prompted a swift evacuation of the school. Students described hearing the fire alarm and being instructed to leave the building.
Gus Alibibu, a student witness, recalled the chaos of the moment. "I was in class, and all of a sudden the fire alarm just went off," he said. "Everyone left, and we didn't see anyone get arrested."
"Happenstance we had a Saskatoon school resource officer there, so a full uniformed officer was at that school for a different event, and he immediately responded to the area where the event was occurring,” Sergeant Ken Kane, the SRO unit supervisor told reporters at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
"I believe that this situation would have been much worse, and more out of control if we didn't have an officer there right away."
Sergeant Kane said the fire was put out quickly.
"It was put out by a teacher and some other staff, whether it was a fire extinguisher or whatever I don't know-- I just know they did extinguish it."
The investigation has been turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service’s serious assault unit.
As for students, Saskatoon Public Schools says classes will be canceled Friday but the school will remain open and counselling services will be available for students.
The Impact on the School Community
The incident has left the school community reeling, with many students and staff struggling to process the traumatic event. Parents have expressed concern about safety measures at the school and are calling for increased security measures.
"It's just gonna get worse and worse year after year. Like how many more kids are gonna get hurt? How many more kids [are going] to die before you hire security?" said Curtis Tweet, a parent whose daughter attends Evan Hardy. "There's no safe place to be in the city. I wouldn't classify school safe anywhere because we allow this to happen."
The Road Ahead
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Police are working to determine the motive behind the attack and are interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage.
The school is also working to provide support to students and staff affected by the incident. Counselling services are being made available and the school will be focusing on creating a safe and supportive learning environment.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased awareness and support for mental health issues among young people. It's crucial that schools, parents, and communities work together to create environments where young people feel safe and supported.
