Overview
- St. Cloud police identified a 9-year-old Westwood Elementary student as the person who set a bathroom fire on March 31.
- The case has been sent to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office because Minnesota law does not allow prosecution of children under 10.
- The fire forced staff and emergency crews to evacuate all students to a nearby church while firefighters put out the blaze.
- The district closed the building for deep cleaning and air-quality testing for nearly two weeks, and students shifted to remote learning.
- Superintendent Laurie Putnam estimated repairs at about $2 million, and local groups are providing emergency child care and activities for families.