7-year-old boy tied to Alaska arson fires

Published April 8, 2012 11:18PM (EDT)

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A fire marshal in Alaska's capital city says a 7-year-old boy has admitted setting five arson fires over a little more than four months.

Juneau fire marshal Dan Jager tells the Juneau Empire (http://bit.ly/Hr6wKe ) that the boy caused about $1,000 in damages by setting fires in restrooms at Harborview Elementary School and the Terry Miller Legislative Building, plus a downtown grass fire and two fires at a Fred Meyer store.

Jager says the boy told him he used a lighter.

Surveillance footage at the legislative building recorded the boy entering and leaving the bathroom at the same time as the fire in the building.

Fire Chief Richard Etheridge says the arson case will be forwarded to probation officers at Juneau's juvenile detention center.

___

Information from: Juneau Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com


By Salon Staff

MORE FROM Salon Staff


Related Topics ------------------------------------------