Eden school fire allegedly causes $160,000 damage, man charged

Police allege Molotov cocktails were found at the scene of a fire in a NSW Far South Coast school, which apparently caused more than $160,000 in damage.

Their investigation into the blaze at Eden Marine High School has resulted in an arrest.

NSW Police said emergency services were called to the school, which is on Barclay Street in Eden, at about 5 am on 4 December due to the fire.

Fire & Rescue NSW firefighters extinguished the blaze before police allegedly found three Molotov cocktails and declared the school to be a crime scene.

“The total estimated damage is believed to be in excess of $160,000,” a police spokesperson said.

Last week, Eden’s Fire & Rescue NSW team posted on its social media account to say firefighters from Eden and Merimbula responded to a structure fire at the school that morning.

“Upon arrival, firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus entered the structure to extinguish the fire,” the team said.

“The incident resulted in extensive damage to one room, with smoke affecting the rest of the building.

“Two individuals were overcome by smoke. Firefighters provided initial care before handing them over to ambulance officers for further assessment.”

At 5 pm on Wednesday (11 December), police raided a property in Emblem Street, Eden, where they arrested 58-year-old Steele Wilson.

He was charged with a single count of breaking and entering and two counts of damaging property by fire or explosive.

The Bega Valley resident’s matter was heard in the Batemans Bay Local Court on Thursday (12 December).

He didn’t apply for bail and it was formally refused. The matter was adjourned to 11 March 2025 in the Bega Local Court.

Eden Marine High was closed from 4-6 December due to the fire, before students began to return on Monday (9 December). All students were to return by Friday (13 December).

“Cleaning and repair work in the affected rooms will continue this weekend and next week,” the school said on social media last week.

“Classes scheduled to take place in the affected rooms will be relocated to available classrooms.”

A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said the fire had been extinguished by two cleaners who were working at the school before emergency services arrived.

“Emergency services including Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance and NSW Police attended to fully extinguish the fire, assess the cleaners and ensure the security of the school site,” the spokesperson said.

“As a result of the fire, smoke and water damage which affected 10 classrooms and two staffrooms across Buildings E and G, the school was non-operational on Wednesday and Thursday and will remain non-operational today (Friday 6 December).”