By Lizzy Acker
The Oregonian
VANCOUVER, Wash. — A fire that ripped through a Vancouver 7-Eleven on June 14 was ignited by a 4-year-old boy with a lighter, The Columbian reported Thursday.
According to investigators, the child found a long-neck lighter and wandered off into the aisles while his mom spoke with the store clerk. He then lit several items on fire.
After the incident, The Columbian reported that the fire “damaged half of the interior structure and 90 percent of the store’s contents” causing around $310,000 in damages. A group of 28 firefighters brought the fire under control in around 25 minutes.
Nobody was hurt.
Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli told The Columbian that no one has recommended formal charges but that the fire department and juvenile justice system are assisting the boy and his family using the youth fire setter intervention program.
The program is free for parents of children with inappropriate interest in fire or who are already setting fires. Contact the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-487-7260 for help.
The Columbian reported that according to the National Fire Protection Association, “more than 40 percent of house fires sparked by playing with fire were started by kids younger than 6.”
Scarpelli said fires started by very young children are often the result of curiosity and mimicking adult behavior.
“We encourage our citizens that are in our area, if they have concerns about their kids,” Scarpelli told the paper, “to give us a call and we can get them scheduled for an intervention.”
Copyright 2017 The Oregonian