Crime

7-Year Old Boy Confesses to a String of Arson Fires in Alaska

A 7-year old boy has admitted to setting at least 5 arson fires in Alaska over the past 4-5 months, and the police have linked him to the crimes.

Causing more than $1,000 in damage, the boy reportedly lit fires in the restrooms of Harborview Elementary School and the Terry Miller Legislative Building, in addition to a downtown grass fire and two fires at a Fred Meyer store.

Fire Chief Richard Etheridge assured the public that the child won’t be going to jail, but his case will be forwarded to probation officers at Johnson Youth Center.

7 Year Old Boy Confesses to 5 Arson Fires in Alaska

“He has no idea how big the fires could have gotten,” fire marshal Dan Jager said. “He could have gotten hurt, and other people could have been hurt because some of those buildings were occupied. Being that age, I don’t think he understood the magnitude of what could have happened.”

The boy, whose name is not being released because of his age, told officers that he set the fires with a lighter he found, but did not reveal why.  He was caught after surveillance footage at the Terry Miller building showed him entering and exiting the bathroom at the time the fire began– and it didn’t help that a grass fire started nearby soon after.  The maintenance worker who put out the flames reportedly showed a still image of the boy to his daughter, who is roughly the same age, and she helped identify him.

“That [grass fire] we knew was kind of suspicious because that location outside, a fire doesn’t just happen,” Jager commented.

7 Year Old Boy Confesses to 5 Arson Fires in Alaska

Juneau Empire is reporting that the pyromaniacal youth lives with his grandmother, who was surprised to learn that her grandson was starting fires in public areas.

“It definitely got her attention,” Jager related, “and I think she‘s going to be a big help making sure that the boy understands what he’s doing.”

Comments (8)

  • atlast
    Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:11pm

    Grass fire??!! In Juneau, AK?? Now that’s something, in the middle of a rain forest no less!

    Report Post »  
  • TraceyM
    Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:16pm

    Usually this type of behavior in a boy so young means his is a victim of abuse.

    Report Post » TraceyM  
  • Brannigans Law
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:04pm

    The time has finally arrived to begin regulating lighters. Such dangerous items should not be allowed in the hands of anyone unable to pass a basic fire handling safety program. Something needs to be done to ensure government can protect us from the dangers uncontrolled lighters pose to society. Perhaps we need some legislation giving oversight of a licensing procedure for fire starters to the ATF or Homeland Security. Surely the TSA, which has already been trained to screen us for such terrible devices, would be up to the task. I urge everyone to take this important issue seriously. Please contact your Senators and/or Representatives. Perhaps if we express our outrage now over this lack of concern for public safety, we’ll be able to stem the tide before it grows out of control. Heaven forbid if we don’t act in a timely, decisive manner now, we could end up with another untenable situation where dangerous weapons are allowed into the hands of average people who can’t be trusted to use them appropriately. Where’s our Brady Bill for lighters, matches and other incendiary devices? Please government, I beg you to rescue us from our own stupidity!!!

    Report Post » Brannigans Law  
    • mdeputy7
      Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:52am

      Ok for a minute there I thought you were serious lol. I was about to cry at the degradation of our country if you were :)

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:35pm

    I’d kick that little firebugs ass, up one side and down the other….. And where are the parents ?

    Report Post »  
    • Eraina962
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 3:27pm

      Where are the parents you ask? He doesn’t have any. Only a grandmother. His parents deserted him. I wonder why he’s so angry.

      Report Post »  
  • mapgirl10
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:56am

    Terrible shame! What causes people to pyro-maniacs?

    Report Post »  
    • Sol Invictus
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:24am

      He’d heard that an easy way to make money was to start a “Blaze”.

      Report Post » Sol Invictus  

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