Buckweed Fire Underscores Need to Teach Kids Fire Safety

SANTA CLARITA, Oct. 31, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- We're learning more Wednesday about the 10-year-old boy who officials say admitted to starting the Buckweed fire. The boy says he accidentally started the blaze.

The fire left more than a dozen people homeless and cut a charred swath from Agua Dulce to Canyon Country.

The Santa Clarita Sheriff's station led the investigation. Detectives in the Santa Clarita Sheriff's station said they had no idea their investigation would lead them to a 10-year-old.

Arson investigators say the Buckweed fire, which destroyed more than 38,000 acres from Agua Dulce to Canyon Country, was started by a 10-year-old playing with matches. The fire destroyed 63 structures, 15 of them homes. More than two-dozen homes and structures were damaged. Several firefighters and a resident were injured. Fighting the fire cost more than $7 million. Authorities say it was all caused by a child with a match.

"Upon talking with him, he openly admitted he started the fire [by] accidentally playing with matches," said L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy Oscar Butao.

Residents caught in the horrifying firestorm can't believe so much destruction came at the hands of child's play.

"We try so hard to educate our children, but we need to take this opportunity to let them know that fire is a serious thing and causes a lot of damage," said nearby resident Christine Peterson.

L.A. County Fire Chief Michael Freeman warns playing with matches can end in tragedy, and as seen from the Buckweed fire, causes enormous destruction.

"Playing with matches invariably ends up starting a fire. Quite often, the fires that are started end up burning the children that play with matches -- so no matches, no fire. Keeping the matches and things of that nature away from the children just requires the constant care to be sure that the children are not accessing the matches," said Capt. Freeman.

Sheriff's officials say it took some work before they found the 10-year-old accused of accidentally starting the fire. They say he hasn't been detained and is in the care of his parents. His case has been handed over to the District Attorney's office.

"The enormity of the damage caused by this fire is inevitably going to be a factor taken into account by the District Attorney in trying to decide whether to charge the child, try the child as an adult, and even go after the parents," said legal expert Royal Oakes.

Authorities say that the D.A.'s office is investigating whether any charges at all are warranted.

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