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The mother of a teenage boy who was on fire at a Wingham, Ont., high school on Tuesday, says her 15-year-old son remains in serious critical condition and is asking for prayers for his recovery.
The victim’s mother declined an interview request but in a message relayed to CBC News she described the support she has felt as continuous, overwhelming and appreciated. And she encouraged people to tell their children they are loved and to teach them to be nicer to others.
She emphasized the gravity of the situation and noted the family is taking things hour by hour.
Emergency crews responded to a person on fire at F.E. Madill Secondary School at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Police said they evacuated the school, located about 120 kilometres north of London, and extinguished the fire.
“We responded with emergency services to a report of an individual that was on fire,” said OPP Const. Evan Polini on Tuesday. “That individual was transported by Ornge air ambulance to a trauma centre and is in stable, but critical condition, with life-threatening injuries.
The Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) said a student was injured in the fire. The board said some students at the school witnessed the incident.
Police tape surrounds F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham, Ont., on April 7, 2026. (Isha Bhargava/CBC News)
Both the OPP and AMDSB have provided no new information as to what could have led to the incident due to the ongoing investigation. However, both are warning about a video of the incident being passed around on social media, calling it “disturbing and graphic.”
The board discouraged the sharing of videos and rumours about the incident in a memo sent to parents and obtained by CBC News.
F.E. Madill has been closed since Wednesday, and students have switched to online classes. The AMDSB has been offering in-person and online supports for students through its Tragic Events Response Support Team.
The board expects the school to reopen to staff and students sometime next week, pending a final assessment by remediation contractors, but did not specify a date.