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Prank leads to expensive damages at Carmacks school

Three Carmacks students are being charged with mischief after they set off Tantalus School’s sprinkler system using a lighter on Friday.

Three Carmacks students are being charged with mischief after they set off Tantalus School’s sprinkler system using a lighter on Friday.

“This was a prank; we know who was involved, there will be some consequences for the kids and we’ll help them through that,” said Tantalus principal Cully Robinson on Monday.

“I think damages are still being assessed but there’s nothing visible to the naked eye.”

The school was evacuated by the time RCMP and Carmacks fire department personnel arrived on the scene.

Five classrooms and a hallway in the east wing of the school were flooded, causing extensive water damage.

The three 14-year-old students are being charged with mischief over $5,000.

“It was very dramatic — we’ve never had the sprinklers set off before,” said Robinson.

“But there’s no visible damage and everybody’s back in school.” (CO)