UPDATE: Grade 9 girl set on fire at Saskatoon high school

Saskatoon Police Service “believes” a Grade 9 girl was set on fire and a male teacher tried to put out the flames on Thursday.

Police confirmed a 15-year-old female was transported to hospital with what are believed to be serious injuries.

Evan Hardy Collegiate has confirmed both the victim and the suspect are students at the school.

Around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 5, police received emergency calls stating an assault and fire had taken place at Evan Hardy Collegiate, according to a release.

Students

“We were in our AP class and the alarm bell rang off,” said a Grade 12 student at the school. “We thought at first it might be a drill, but when we went out, we heard the sirens of ambulances.”

“We were pretty sure that it was serious,” they said. “We just saw a teacher on the bed (paramedics stretcher), with the police and paramedics.

“I was in class .. and all of a sudden the fire alarm (was) just pulled off,” said another Grade 12 student at the school. “I saw an ambulance and a victim.”

Police

“This situation could have been much worse and could have been more out of control if we didn’t have an officer there right away,” said Sergeant Ken Kane from the School Resource Unit.

He added, that having uniformed police officers in the schools does mitigate risk and increase public safety.

Police said, “A School Resource Officer (SRO), who was already on-scene for a different matter, was able to take the 14-year-old female suspect into custody immediately.”

Sergeant Ken Kane from the School Resource Unit gave an update after police responded to a Grade 9 girl being lit on fire by another student in Saskatoon on Sept. 5, 2024.

Saskatoon School

Saskatoon Public Schools has confirmed classes are canceled and students have been dismissed at Evan Hardy Collegiate.

A release sent to parents by the school reads “At midday, one of our students was assaulted by another student.”

The release also said “due to the seriousness of the incident,” classes will be cancelled Friday, Sept. 6.

In a statement from the school, it is urging parents to talk to their children about what happened, counselling has also been made available for the students at the school on Friday.

Students can also pick up their belongings at the school tomorrow.

Eyewitnesses have told 650 CKOM that emergency vehicles were on the scene in the College Park neighbourhood including ambulances, police and fire.

Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education released the following statement “We understand Saskatoon Public Schools is working with Saskatoon Police Service, and school officials will ensure the school community has the supports they need during this difficult time. Each school division has procedures they follow to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers in emergency situations which includes protocols around the notification of parents and guardians.”

—Editor’s Note: This file has been updated to include first-hand accounts and releases.