12-year-old boy charged with arson after London, Ont., building fire: police

LONDON — Police in London, Ont., say they’ve charged a 12-year-old boy with arson after a fire in a residential building over the weekend.

They say emergency crews rushed to the scene of a working fire on Clarke Road around 9:20 p.m. on Sunday.

Police say the building was evacuated as the fire was extinguished and there were no reported injuries.

Investigators say the suspect, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with one count of arson with disregard for human life.

The boy remains in custody and was scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The investigation continues and police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2025.

The Canadian Press