The Henry County Sheriffโs Office responded Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, to a report of a possible fire incident at the Calhoun School District. No students or staff were injured, and the situation was quickly contained by school personnel.
At approximately 9:32 a.m., the Henry County Sheriffโs Office was contacted by school officials at the Calhoun School District, located in the 400 block of South College Street in Calhoun, Missouri, regarding a suspected fire that had occurred inside the school. Officials reported that staff and students began noticing a strong burning odor throughout the building.
School staff immediately began investigating the source of the odor and located the origin of the fire inside a female restroom within the school. During their inspection, officials discovered that toilet paper had been ignited and placed above a ceiling tile, which caused the burning odor that spread throughout the building.
Deputies with the Henry County Sheriffโs Office responded to the school and conducted an investigation into the incident. During the course of the investigation, three juvenile students were identified as having been in the restroom area during the timeframe of the incident, and each was interviewed.
As the investigation progressed, one juvenile admitted to starting the fire. Due to the age of the individual involved, the case has been referred to the Henry County Juvenile Office for review and any further action deemed appropriate.
The Henry County Sheriffโs Office would like to thank the Calhoun School District administration and staff for their quick response and cooperation during the investigation. The prompt actions taken by school personnel helped ensure the safety of students and staff and assisted investigators in resolving the incident quickly.
