Two teenagers, including a young Aldergrove man, have been charged with starting a fire that damaged Yarrow elementary school and an adjacent portable that housed a day-care centre.

Eighteen-year-old Aaron Toka of Yarrow, and 19-year-old Taylor Neilson of Aldergrove, have both been charged with arson. They have been released from jail, with multiple conditions, and are scheduled to reappear in Chilliwack provincial court Sept. 14.

Toka and Neilson are accused of using Molotov cocktails to start multiple fires around the school in the early morning hours of Aug. 17. The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage to the school property.

“This type of crime is simply not tolerable and the police wish to thank the public who provided information that aided in this investigation,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Lea-Anne Dunlop.

As for the damaged school, both it and the day care should be ready for students come next week, according to school district superintendent Corinne McCabe.

“We will be back in business for school opening next week,” she told the Times on Monday. “They’re just working out the details on the replacement portable and there has been considerable work done inside the school to deal with water damage and to deal with external damage from the fire.”

Repairs to the school’s gymnasium have been taking place faster than expected, with the floor being lifted and dried.