A boy has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into a fire at a school in the state's Central West earlier this month.
About 10.30pm on Monday 5 December 2022, emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a school on Maxwell Avenue, Orange.
Fire & Rescue NSW extinguished the fire, which caused extensive damage – estimated to be worth $3million – to the school's library and administration block.
Officers from Central West Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the fire.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives attended at a home in Orange and arrested a 12-year-old boy yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 20 December 2022).
He was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with damage/destroy property by fire in company and aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence.
The boy was refused bail and appeared before a children's court today (Wednesday 21 December 2022), where he was formally refused bail to reappear at a children's court on Tuesday 17 January 2023.
Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
