They’re not allowed to have matches or lighters, but several teens somehow managed to start a fire early Monday morning at the Manitoba Youth Centre that caused about $50,000 in damage.

The fire that began when a sheet and curtain were set ablaze not only forced nine fire trucks to respond but also brought in riot police to deal with four teens who were threatening corrections staff. Manitoba Youth Centre superintendent Darryl Rumsey said problems began around 9:30 p.m. Sunday when a group of teenagers started yelling at staff. Four teen boys were already locked in two bedrooms in one of the secure units — standard policy at the facility.

After about four hours of the youths threatening centre staff, Rumsey said, an emergency response unit was sent in to deal with the disturbance. The youths had made references to weapons, said Rumsey. After two youths lit two blazes in one of the rooms, officials hosed the room down twice and then went in to stop the four teens involved.

“We weren’t sure of exactly of what they may have had in there,” said Rumsey. He said youth centre officials are still “not sure” how the fire started, but a source said one of the youths might have been given a lighter or matches during a visit with a relative.

A 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys were involved, said Rumsey.Rumsey acknowledged the jail was over-capacity at the time of the disturbance, with about 203 youth housed in a centre meant for about 150 people. Each youth stays in a building called a “cottage” where they have bedroom-like cells, complete with a steel door, no washroom facilities and metal bunks. Youth are locked in the cells during the night and can buzz staff if they need to leave.
Each cottage holds 15 to 23 boys.