Boy Fined Under Wildfire Act

Thursday, August 05, 2010 12:41 PM

Prince George B.C.- A deliberately set fire in the 6000 block of Lambertus Road in the Reid Lake area of Prince George yesterday has resulted in a 12 year old facing a fine.

RCMP and the Ness Lake Volunteer Fire Crews responded to the fire around 11 yesterday morning.

Upon attending, RCMP spoke with fire crews who extinguished the flames and advised that an old abandoned vehicle had been set ablaze. The fire was set in a small clearing within 100 meters of a near by residence and could have easily started a forest fire if it were not for their quick response.

RCMP discovered the fire had been set by a 12 yr old boy who admitted to spraying a flammable substance onto the vehicle and then lit it with a torch. The youth told the police that he did it because he was bored.

Police charged the youth with Section 10(3) under the Wild Fire Act which states “Light fuel or use fire against restrictions” . The fine associated to the infraction is $345. The boy's parents advised that he would be working very hard this summer to pay for his reckless behaviour.

“This incident could have resulted in a devastating forest fire and most likely the loss of any near by residences including the youth's family home if were not for the quick response of the Ness Lake Volunteer Fire Department. We truly appreciate all the hard work and recognize the challenges that all our fire crews are faced with at this difficult time" says RCMP Constable Lesley Smith.

RCMP are reminding the public that there is a ban in effect and all campfires and open burning is strictly prohibited. These infractions will be strictly enforced by way of Fines or Criminal Charges.

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Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 12:41 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: RUEZ on August 5 2010 1:48 PM

Well he won't be bored now working off that fine.

Posted by: highlanderpg on August 5 2010 2:46 PM

Good, when I was a young boy, when I did stupid stuff ( although I never set cars on fire) my dad would make me chop wood all summer until we had enough wood to fuel the neighbourhood, but it kept me out of trouble and kept me in shape and eating well, todays kids ( not all of them) but the ones that like to sit around and play video games and then bitch because theres nothing to do need a mentor or a program to become educated about the enviorment around them and how to function normally within it, to become somewhat productive, to get ,lives.

Posted by: gus on August 5 2010 3:36 PM

"The fire was set in a small clearing within 100 meters of a near by residence"

So tell me, why the heck were those abandoned vehicles there? Sounds like it is on public property. That should get a MEGA fine!!!!!

And if on private property, fined for keeping the premises in an unkempt condition.

I am sorry, but the boy sounds like he fits right in to the environment!

Posted by: sledhead on August 5 2010 4:15 PM

I'm glad this kid's parents got charged. The fine seems pretty minimal though. What if this fire wasn't caught in time?? I am wondering why this kid would resort to this type of behavior. What is going on?? I think his family life should be looked into.....

My kid is 13 and he is off in Vernon for 3 weeks at the cadet camp. Along with performing the army cadet duties, he gets to mountain bike, rock climb, river raft, go on alpine excursions and meet a whole bunch of new friends. I can't say enough good things about the cadet program. If more of these kids had something like this to keep them busy I think there would be way less delinquency going on.

Oh, and by the way. While we are on the subject of burnt cars. We were out to the Pass Lake rd about a month ago and there was an old abandoned van parked along side the road that had been smashed and left. Last weekend we were back out there again and the van had been burnt to the ground by hoodlums and were wondering how anyone can be that damn stupid to do such a thing when the forests are as dry as they are??!!

Posted by: CabinFeverGirl on August 5 2010 4:41 PM

Thankfully no one was hurt and the fire did not take off any further then it did.
Maybe this is a good time for someone in the boys family to join the volunteer fire department and contribute back to their community. I am sure even a 12 year old can give time to the fire hall in some capacity such as lawn mowing or cleaning etc.......
Thanks to all our firefighters, (paid or volunteer) on all the work you do!

Posted by: CabinFeverGirl on August 5 2010 4:42 PM

Posted by: supertech on August 5 2010 5:59 PM

The parents are not being punished and shouldn't be. It's about time a child was held responsible for his actions. The parents seem to have more sense than anyone making comments here. The boys parents were not charged sledhead. Try reading the article again. The parents are doing the discipline, which is their job. Nuff said.

Posted by: sledhead on August 5 2010 6:57 PM

Ok....sorry supertech...the kid was charged!! I don't really know what the difference is?? If the parents had been doing "their job" then this situation wouldn't have happened!! This kid would have been brought up to know what's right and wrong!!

I find it interesting that the fine was only $345 for lighting a fire, but I believe it's the same fine if you're caught with an oversized campfire. That is something that doesn't quite add up to me.

Posted by: He spoke on August 5 2010 6:58 PM

way to go for the parents, they should get the kid to pay for his adventure.

Posted by: alex1212 on August 5 2010 7:29 PM

with an answer like i was bored ,, well.... if i was the parents i would remedy that pretty quickly.12 and setting fires ? man, no comment

Posted by: mythoughts on August 5 2010 7:32 PM

The parents are doing their job and punishing their son. Parents can't watch their kids 24x7. We have no idea what kind of people they are and should not be critizing them. Sounds like they are doing the right thing.

Posted by: crazylegshinch on August 5 2010 7:46 PM

I hope that the kids is made to work this off and made very clear that starting a fire "because you are bored" and endangering your own life, and countless others is not acceptable.

I don't know the parents. And kids get in to trouble on their own. But I'm sure they are aware that public eye is looking at them and questioning why their child was in the position to do this in the first place. I certainly hope that means something to them too.

He should also have to write a letter of apology to the volunteer fire fighters and other first responders who had to drop everything they were doing and come do a dangerous job to protect the lives and property that were threatened by this recklessness. I think community service helping out the fire station would be a good start.

Posted by: Dragonmaster on August 5 2010 10:20 PM

Move back to the city sledhead.

"way to go for the parents, they should get the kid to pay for his adventure"

Read the story again Spoke.

Mythoughts has it right.

"questioning why their child was in the position to do this in the first place"

He's a 12 year old kid and this position is very common for 12 year old kids. Unless you're a 12 year old kid that grew up in the city or have parents that are....

"He should also have to write a letter of apology to the volunteer fire fighters and other first responders who had to drop everything they were doing and come do a dangerous job to protect the lives and property that were threatened by this recklessness. I think community service helping out the fire station would be a good start"

Completely ludicrous!

Posted by: Boudicca on August 6 2010 8:39 AM

should take the kid to the burn unit at the hospital thats something he will never forget

Posted by: opinion10 on August 6 2010 11:37 AM

so sad! again, parents have to take responsability for a child's irresponsable actions. The parents will pay the fine, the child will sit at home for another month..bored, and maybe do something a lot worse next time to help pass the time till school is back in session. Sorry people but I am a firm believer in punishment for your actions. 30 day's on the hill and probation! Odds are he will think twice about just how bored he is. Gee, what will he think of in 5 or 10 years when boredom sets in, I don't want to think about it!

Posted by: Poolchick on August 6 2010 12:38 PM

He started the fire because he was bored???
Pick up a book and get an education you moron!!! That fine is not large enough as far as I'm concerned. At the age of 12 and doing something so stupid, just shows he will be a problem as he gets older if his excuse is boredom. Hope the parents wake up and fix the problem now.

Posted by: sledhead on August 6 2010 3:19 PM

I totally agree with opinion10, Boudicca and Poolchick on this one. I really don't understand the other comments posted here that are defending the boys actions, and the parents. I know the parents didn't commit the act, but I'm sick and tired of hearing that parents aren't responsible for their kid's actions!! ENOUGH!! It doesn't matter if you live in the city or not, it doesn't excuse this type of behavior.

He was bored?? Come on, that has to be the LAMEST excuse ever. This kid needs more than a little fine to teach him what's right or wrong. If at 12 he's setting fires to cars, I really shudder to think what he'll be doing in the future. YIKES.