Fires – one suspicious – disrupt classes at two London-area high schools

A fire Friday morning that forced hundreds of students and staff to be evacuated from a London-area high school is suspicious, police said.

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Ingersoll firefighters responded to Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute at 10 am following reports of smoke, the Thames Valley District school board said. The fire was put out, the board said, but provided no other details about where the fire started or how much damage was caused.

Students and staff left the building on Alma Street and went to the Ingersoll District Memorial Center, the board said.

Oxford OPP said officers were called to the school at 10:30 am The fire has been deemed suspicious, police said, and investigators are looking to identify the person or people who started the fire.

No one was injured, Oxford OPP said.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

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Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute was closed for the day while restoration crews cleared smoke from the building, the board said.

“At this time, for safety reasons it’s not possible to retrieve personal belongings from the school. We’ll advise if and when that situation changes,” the board said in a news release at about 11:30 am

Classes at the school are expected to resume Monday morning, the board said.

The Thames Valley board also was dealing with a fire at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute on Friday.

Strathroy firefighters responded to reports of smoke at the school just before noon. Students and staff went to Gemini Sportsplex while firefighters inspected the school, the board said.

Students and staff were allowed to return to the school at about 12:30 pm No one was injured, the board said.

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