15 Year Old Confesses to Buckweed Fire
Reports are now coming in that authorities have received a confession from a 15 year old boy that claims to have started the Buckweed Fire accidentally by playing with matches. The 15 year old boy is currently in his parents custody and so far this is being ruled an accident. Whether or not criminal charges are filed remains up to the District Attorney.
The Buckweed fire burned 39,000 acres and destroyed 25 structures (15 homes).
According to a KNBC news report, the county may have the option to seek compensation from the boys parents to help cover the millions spent to put out this fire.
The boy had contacted authorities a day and a half after the fire started, but the news was just released today due to the fact that they were still conducting their investigation.
As of now, his name has not been released.
SierraNightTide | Oct 31, 2007 | Reply
Since the child was over the age of 12 I believe the child should receive some kind of probation as punishment.
FireStarted | Oct 31, 2007 | Reply
I believe that community service would be appropriate, no monetary compensation as he is just a child and we all know we make mistakes in life and he has probably already learnt from his. Also there is no way that they can confirm that he did infact start the fire, as what he did may not have even been the cause.
Ken Smith | Nov 1, 2007 | Reply
I have been following your blog for updates on the fire, thanks for the updates.
By the age of 15 you know not to play with matches, there probably is much more to that story then the kid will ever admit. At the very least he should have to put some community service hours into helping clean up the mess he caused. Without this he will never understand that there are consequences to his actions.
Amy Atkins | Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
I guess now it comes to light that he was only 10. Its a controversy as to what extent the parents should be held responsible. I would hope that even at 10 a child would not be playing with matches. There was a welder that started the Magic fire that came racing towards Stevenson Ranch, I guess in a sense he was playing with fire as well. What should be done about that?
Lois Lastgal | Nov 3, 2007 | Reply
Weld I suppose the gentleman is rsponsible, at least as much as the parents of that ten year old. Fire is Fire no matter who plays with it.