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Student bonfire blamed for 1 of 3 Calif. wildfires LOS ANGELES – A group of college students who lit a ridge-top bonfire is being blamed for accidentally sparking one of three ferocious wildfires that collectively destroyed about 1,000 homes and blacked more than 65 square miles.
An anonymous tipster told police 10 students gathered a week ago near an abandoned home in the hills of Montecito, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said Tuesday. They built a bonfire during the night and stayed until 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday morning. By Thursday night, when winds took hold of it, the seemingly harmless blaze was on its way to destroying 210 Santa Barbara homes, including multimillion-dollar properties, authorities said. The students, aged between 18 and 22, apparently believed they had put out the fire before leaving. Fire officials said it is not uncommon for such fires to have the potential to re-ignite days later. "It appears this fire was the result of carelessness, not criminal intent," said Brown, who added that the students all lived locally and attended the same school. He declined to say which one or identify the students. Though Brown said there was no "malicious intent," the county district attorney will review the case and determine if criminal charges are filed. Read more @ http://news.yahoo.com/s/a.../wildfires | |
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Every year, same result. | |
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Graycap23 said: Every year, same result.
"The students, aged between 18 and 22, apparently believed they had put out the fire before leaving. Fire officials said it is not uncommon for such fires to have the potential to re-ignite days later." My older brother almost burned down my home by "thinking the fire he built was out" - 2 days later 2 acres behind my home burnt to a crisp ( about 40 feet behind my home ) the firemen and forest fighter men ( persons ! ) were able to stop the fire just in time really ...  - Hell I was carring buckets of water from my house to put out the fire in my yard right behind my house  there were around 40 firefighters here and 6 trucks | |
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wow. wonder what will happen to that group of students? i can imagine tons of lawsuits headed their way right now..... i understand it was accidential but that isn't an excuse, really. such a shame | |
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