A juvenile petition was obtained for a 16-year-old male Fairfax High School student for intentionally setting fire to some track and filed mats stored outdoors under an overhand area next to the field house at the school, 3501 Rebel Run in Fairfax City.

City Chief Fire Marshal Andrew Wilson said on Tuesday that units of the Fairfax City Fire Department arriving at the scene at 2:24 p.m. on Friday, May 2, extinguished the blaze very quickly, within about 20 minutes.

Wilson said the teen had most likely used a cigarette lighter to start the fire. Fairfax County Crime Solvers will present a reward to the person who provided information about the suspect. Damage is estimated at about $50,000.

In an e-mail to the school community, Fairfax High School Principal Scott Brabrand said that repairs to the damaged exterior section of the field house would begin immediately. The Field House, he said, is fully operational and will be in use for all remaining school activities including the graduation exercises for the Class of 2008.