Cowra High School blaze: Police charge 17-year-old boy over alleged fire attack

Police have charged a 17-year-old boy with arson after he allegedly set fire to a New South Wales school.

Emergency services were called to Cowra High School in the State’s west about 7.10pm Monday after reports of a fire on the grounds, NSW Police said in a statement.

Firefighters and police arrived to find the school’s administration block engulfed in flames and badly damaged by the blaze.

Nobody was injured in the attack and firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to other areas of the school.

“Smoke damage was also sustained to other buildings within the school grounds,” the force said.

Later at about 10pm, police said the accused was arrested at a home in Cowra.

He was taken to Cowra Police Station and has been charged with damage to property by fire/exp >$15000, commit 112(1) offence & disseminate and break & enter house etc destroy etc property >$60,000.

The inferno forced Cowra High School to close on Tuesday, with the institution issuing a statement to parents and students on Facebook.

“The fire has caused damage to some areas of the school, and we are currently working to have the entire school site safe for the return of our staff and students,” the school wrote.

“The safety of our school community is our number one priority, and for this reason our school will revert to learning from home tomorrow for all students,” the post said.

“Students will not be able to access the school site on Tuesday 21 July.”

The teenager was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday.