Polk County Student Arrested For School Bathroom Fire

HAINES CITY, FL — A Polk County high school student was arrested Thursday after allegedly setting a fire in a school bathroom that led to an evacuation.

The 16-year-old Haines City High School student was charged with arson and disruption of a school function in connection with Wednesday's fire in a boys bathroom around 1:30 p.m. — 30 minutes before dismissal.

Patch is withholding the student's name because of his age.

"The fire alarm was activated and students were evacuated," explained Mike Ferguson of the Haines City Police Department. "School administrators used extinguishers to put out the fire."

Investigators said the student skipped class at the time of the incident and was in the bathroom for about eight minutes. Ferguson said the Haines City Fire Department assisted with the fire.

The student allegedly told detectives that he started the fire as a prank and had no intentions of harming anyone.

"We're grateful that no one was hurt, but this so-called prank could have had serious ramifications," said Chief Jim Elensky of the Haines City Police Department.

"Any incident that endangers the lives of our students, educators and school staff will be fully investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said. "I applaud our officers and detectives for their quick work in this case."