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Teen charged in connection with fire at northern Manitoba daycare

RCMP in Chemawawin Cree Nation are investigating a fire that caused significant damage to a daycare in the community (RCMP Handout) RCMP in Chemawawin Cree Nation are investigating a fire that caused significant damage to a daycare in the community (RCMP Handout)
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A 16-year-old is facing a number of charges after a daycare centre on a northern Manitoba First Nation went up in flames earlier this month.

According to Chemawawin RCMP, the fire broke out at around 7:50 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Airport Road daycare centre on Chemawawin Cree Nation, about 200 kilometres southeast of The Pas, Man.

The local fire department was already on scene when Mounties arrived.

RCMP said an initial examination led officers to believe the fire was suspicious.

RCMP in Chemawawin Cree Nation are investigating a fire that caused significant damage to a daycare in the community (RCMP Handout)

“At the time of the fire, the centre was undergoing renovation after a substantial investment by the community. The 20 children who attended the centre are now left in a temporary facility,” said Sgt. Andrew Cowan, detachment commander with Chemawawin RCMP.

The Office of the Fire Commission later determined the cause of the fire to be incendiary.

RCMP say video footage from the daycare showed a youth unlawfully entering the building after hours.

Police have since arrested and charged a 16-year-old youth with break/enter commit, arson damage to property and theft under $5,000.

The youth has been remanded into custody, and is scheduled to appear at The Pas Provincial Court on Thursday.

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