Student Critically Injured in Ontario High School Fire

A student is in critical condition after a fire occurred at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham, Ontario, on April 7, 2026.

Emergency crews responded to reports of a person on fire shortly after 8 a.m. ET. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Huron County confirmed that the injured individual was transported by Ornge air ambulance to a trauma centre.

The student is reported to be in stable but critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

Emergency Response and School Closure

The incident led to the immediate evacuation of F.E. Madill Secondary School, which has since been shut down. Police indicated they will remain on the scene for at least three days as part of their investigation.

According to the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB), some students witnessed the incident as they were arriving at the school. In response, students were safely relocated to the nearby Maitland River Elementary School.

While the OPP stated that only one person was injured, a spokesperson for the school board noted in a statement that a staff member and a student were reported injured and were being treated in a hospital.

We responded with emergency services to a report of an individual that was on fire,

OPP Const. Evan Polini

Trauma counsellors have been made available to students following the event.