Boy confesses to playing with matches

Wow!

What would you do if it had been your child who in playing with matches was found to be the cause of the massive Southern California fires that have been raging for the last few weeks?

I could do nothing but praying for the victims.

Contact my insurance agent immediately.

I dont want to laugh but that was my first response to your comment.

When hubby told me that. I was like that kid had a LOT of GUTS to tell someone. Or his family had a LOT of GUTS to tell the world.

Burn his fingers, and tell him never ever to do it again.

All the rest is a loss. I don't know his age..but by the sounds of it...he's too young to know any better.

Again....where's the parental supervision??
The parents need to be asked the question.

Suing the parents isn't going to do any good as the damage is too extensive.

I'd slap him silly!


There were a couple of wildfires here along the Rio Grande a few years ago, one of which was set by kids playing with fireworks in the forest along the river. Another was set by a homeless man who had made a campfire. It seems insane to me that in this day and age people don't know that perhaps that's not a very good thing to do.

We had that discussion today too. Ranging from "let the kid off" to my personal stance, that was to "lock him up for life" were solutions. We're talking millions in property loss/damages. But that's not what I base locking him up for, mine was based upon the deaths, injuries and so on. It's tough sh*t this kid doesn't know any better. If one person died a horrible fiery death from his negligence, be it ignorance, that in my book is manslaughter at the very least. The parents should be held accountable for as much of the financial burden too. I know it sounds harsh, but let's face it, why should the rest of us bail this out financially, why should others bear emotional angst and grief from this. All of this is going to happen regardless, I just have an issue with anyone saying "he didn't know any better".

A neighbor's fence almost burned down a few days ago when he two boys (aged 7 and 8) were playing with matches. It's no joke here in SoCal.

And there's a reason the child that started this/these fire(s) and the family has not been publicly named. I doubt they would make it for very long beyond that announcement.

Is "Beat the shit out of the little bastard" an option?

Get out of the hills people. There is just too much fuel up there. It's gonna burn eventually. The only safe option for building up there would be underground. The natives used to periodically burn off the underbrush to open up the hills for the larger game that they liked to hunt. Move to a safer area, like south central Los Angeles.

I might have to spank him and explain that it was his behavior that was displeasing and not him. NO! Forget it, that's just too lame a punishment.

Maybe make him volunteer to work with me at one of the shelters where people have been forced to stay. Make him donate some of his favorite toys and clothes to those displaced by the fire. The trick is not to replace them right away.

When you look at the miles and miles of devastation there really is no appropriate punishment for a child so young.

Kids...can't abort 'em when their old.

its sad but the fact is he is still a CHILD!!..

maybe let him realize what he did but not in form of physical punishment..