A 16-year-old student intentionally set a fire inside a Grand Haven High School bathroom Thursday morning, sending smoke billowing through the building and forcing the evacuation of students and staff. Two students were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, and the school stayed closed Friday as cleaning and restoration crews continued working through Friday and the weekend, with classes expected to resume Monday.
The fire broke out shortly after 9 a.m. in a bathroom on the school's second floor, according to Fox 17. A school resource officer responded immediately and used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames before they could spread beyond the room, the station reported. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a 16-year-old student had intentionally started the fire, as MLive.com reported.
Smoke Fills Hallways, Students Rushed Outside
Smoke spread throughout the building, prompting an evacuation of students and staff, according to the Grand Haven Tribune. Two students were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, per the same account from the Tribune's reporting also echoed by WOOD TV8. The bathroom itself sustained significant damage, including to its walls and ceiling, though officials said the fire's direct damage was confined to that one room, with the building's fire doors helping keep smoke and soot from spreading further.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools said students and staff were safely evacuated, and the Grand Haven Area Public Schools district shared that students were briefly allowed to retrieve personal belongings once safety conditions permitted, according to the Ottawa News Network. The dismissal was orderly, with students using normal pickup lines.
Classes Dismissed, Building Closed Through Friday
Ventilation concerns inside the building meant students could not simply return to class once the smoke cleared, so the district dismissed classes for the rest of the day, according to the Fox 17 report. The high school then remained closed Friday entirely, to allow cleaning and restoration crews to continue working on the building, the Grand Haven Tribune reported.
The Grand Haven Fire Department and the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office both assisted at the scene. Lieutenant Ryan Devries spoke about the student's disposition following the incident. The 16-year-old suspect was identified, interviewed, and turned over to their parents. Charges are expected to be submitted to the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office for review, according to WWMT.
