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An arson investigator is probing the blaze that significantly damaged parts of a Saskatoon high school on Friday, police say.
“The fire is believed to be suspicious,” Saskatoon police said in a Monday news release.
Officers received reports of a fire at Bethlehem Catholic High School, in the city’s west end, around 10:30 p.m. on Friday.
Video footage of the fire shared with CBC News shows columns of flame and smoke engulfing parts of the school.
Several fire trucks and emergency responders worked to put out the fire, which included spraying water directly down onto it from ladder trucks.
Residents gather to watch a blaze take over portable classrooms at Bethlehem Catholic High School on Friday. (Submitted by David Santosi)
While the full extent of the damage is unknown, but there was “significant damage” to the portable classrooms under construction at the school, according to a statement posted on the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools website.
There is also water and smoke damage in the main part of the school, the statement says.
Staff members are working to “plan any adjustments that will need to be made” for the upcoming fall term, which is just weeks away, the statement said.
The fire caused significant damage to portable classrooms attached to Bethlehem Catholic High School. (Édith Boisvert/CBC)
“We still don’t have access to the site where the portables are/were,” school division spokesperson Derrick Kunz told CBC News in an email.
“We have access to the main building and are assessing the extent of damage and cleanup has begun.”
The school division will provide more information when it gets access to the portables, Kunz said.
The Ministry of Education said in an emailed statement that it is also waiting to understand the full extent of the damage before determining next steps. The ministry added that it was unable to comment on the ongoing police investigation.
The full extent of the damage is still unknown, as staff have not been able to access the area where the portable classrooms were, said school division spokesperson Derrick Kunz. (Édith Boisvert/CBC)
“Our thoughts are with the students, families, staff, and school community as they deal with the impact of this incident,” the ministry wrote.
The City of Saskatoon, on behalf of the fire department, said it would not comment further until the police investigation is done.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact investigators.