Avondale church fire

The story so far

A fire in the early hours of Monday 14 July severely damaged the church at St Mary's Catholic School on Great North Road in Avondale.^{14, 18, 22 Jul 2025} Emergency crews attended around 4:15am, placing road cordons in place and closing the school for the day.^{14 Jul 2025} Police called the fire suspicious and released an image of a man who may be able to help with their inquiries.^{18 Jul 2025} A 42-year-old man has since been charged with arson over the fire, and no injuries were reported.^{22 Jul 2025}

Key moments

1. 14 Jul 2025Early-morning fire severely damages school church; roads cordoned and school closed.
2. 18 Jul 2025Police release image of a man, seeking help with suspicious fire inquiries.
3. 22 Jul 202542-year-old man charged with arson over the Avondale church fire.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.