14-year-old accused of setting Geneva School fire

A 14-year-old boy has been accused of setting fire to a Geneva school.

Police said the boy, who does not attend school in District 304, was charged Friday with arson, burglary and criminal damage to property for the Dec. 20 fire at Western Avenue School, 1500 Western Ave., Geneva.

Because he is a juvenile, police are unable to release his name, Cmdr. Julie Nash said.

Police and firefighters responded at 1:39 a.m. Dec. 20 to a reported garbage bin fire in the school's south parking lot. While on the scene, authorities discovered and extinguished additional fires in three classrooms inside. No one was hurt, but several classrooms will have to be entirely rebuilt, school officials have said.

Nash said the boy attended a detention hearing Friday at Kane County Juvenile Court in St. Charles.

He is scheduled to appear again March 6.

District 304 officials could not be reached for comment Saturday.