LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police said a young male juvenile was responsible for setting a fire in a student bathroom at Terrace Middle School in Lakeport this week.

The fire occurred on Monday morning, prompting a school evacuation, as Lake County News has reported.

Firefighters arriving at the scene quickly knocked down the fire and students later were able to go back to class, officials said.

The Lakeport Police Department and Lakeport Fire Protection District began an immediate investigation into the fire’s cause, which quickly was found to have been intentionally set.

A $600 reward also was offered for information leading to the identification of the responsible individual.

Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson told Lake County News that a young male juvenile was identified as having set the fire.

Due to the sensitivity of the case, Ferguson did not release any other specifics, including the child’s age.

Terrace Middle School includes grades fourth through eighth.

Through the investigation and interviewing other students, police were able to identify the responsible child, Ferguson said.

Ferguson said the boy brought a lighter to school and was lighting toilet paper in the bathroom to show off.

The boy lit some toilet paper that flew up and hit the toilet paper dispenser, which caused the fire, according to Ferguson.

Because the boy is so young, Ferguson said he was not referred to Lake County Probation, which handles juvenile cases.

Due to changes in laws over the last few years, police couldn’t even speak to the child directly, according to Ferguson.

“It’s really complicated now,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson said the parents were notified and the school will handle any disciplinary issues.

Interim Lakeport Unified School District Superintendent Patrick Iaccino said Friday that the middle school administration is dealing with the situation, and is following state education code and district board policy as it relates to student matters of discipline.

Iaccino said that he didn’t yet have a dollar figure on the damage the fire caused to the bathroom.

As for the $600 reward that was offered, “We are going to have a meeting next week to determine who actually came forward, how many persons and how to disperse the money,” Ferguson said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.