Local News

Student Arrested for Arson at High School

Mar 21, 2018

A 16-year-old male student has been arrested in connection with the fire that was started in a bathroom stall at Omak High School on Monday.

Shortly after 1pm Monday, the Omak Fire Department was called to the High School for an activated fire alarm. Omak Police responded to the scene as well.

When they arrived they found a small fire in a downstairs bathroom near the weight room that was producing a large amount of smoke. The fire was immediately extinguished by the fire department.

There were no injuries reported in the incident and the school resumed normal functions.

Omak Police Chief Jeff Koplin said upon investigation it was found that the fire had originated in a toilet paper dispenser in one of the bathroom stalls and had been intentionally set. Koplin said a 16-year-old male student was detained in connection with the fire and he was eventually arrested and booked into Okanogan County Juvenile Detention for Arson in the first degree.

Koplin said the total dollar amount of damage is still undetermined but there was significant smoke damage to the bathroom and some of the adjacent rooms.

School officials brought in a restoration team to clean up the damage. They said the gym is functional for instructional use, but will be closed during lunch and after school until further notice. The weight room is also closed until further notice.

Koplin said, “Thanks to the quick work of the Omak Fire Department and the excellent safety systems in place at the Omak High School this incident resulted in no injuries and very little loss of class time at the school."