Police investigate fire that destroyed Ontario First Nation school

The cause of a fire that completely destroyed an elementary school in Wapekeka First Nation in northern Ontario on Wednesday night is now being investigated by police.

Ontario Provincial Police say community members and their officers tried to extinguish the fire but their attempts were unsuccessful and the Reverend Eleazar Winter Memorial school was fully engulfed in flame and burned to the ground.

The First Nation has a pumper truck but no fire department, according to community member Joshua Frogg.

About 150 children attend the school. Police say it would cost more than $5 million to replace it.

On Friday, police said the cause of the fire was suspicious and they are investigating it along with the Office of the Ontario fire Marshall.

Police said there were no reported injuries.