By Jacqueline Koch
The Chattanooga Times Free Press
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A curious 10-year-old boy on Sunday afternoon ignited a $1 million blaze at River City Plastics, representing another juvenile arrested this year on major fire crime charges.
Chattanooga fire investigators arrested the boy in connection with the fire at 2509 N. Orchard Knob Ave. after evidence at the scene and an anonymous phone call led to him, Chattanooga Fire Department officials said.
While being questioned by investigators, the boy admitted to setting the fire and said he was playing with a cigarette lighter and set some materials on fire behind the building, said Capt. Lesley Morgan with the fire investigation division.
There were two boys present at the time, Capt. Morgan said, but the second boy was not charged because he merely watched what happened and has impaired mental status, Capt. Morgan said.
“We believe the boys were just looking for something to do,” she said. “They were curious.”
The boy who was arrested said he tried to stamp out the fire, but it continued to grow so he panicked and ran.
The boy was transported to the juvenile detention center on charges of setting fire to personal property and reckless endangerment, said fire department spokesman Bruce Garner.
River City Plastics owner Nathaniel Long did not return calls seeking comment Monday.
Fire department officials said they thought the company had insurance.
On Monday afternoon, the property sat vacant. The building’s entire backside was gone, exposing a charred interior.
Diane Templeton, co-owner of neighboring Breeding Insulation Co., said she and her husband went to the scene Sunday evening after hearing news reports about the fire.
“It was smoking pretty bad,” she said.
The couple’s building was not damaged, she said.
On April 14, a 9-year-old boy allegedly lit toilet paper on fire and burned down the Hixson Dollar General, causing more than $1 million in damage. A week later, the same boy was seen lighting paper on fire while sitting in a vehicle at a gas pump at a station on Hixson Pike. He has been charged with aggravated arson and reckless endangerment, authorities said.
During the same month, two fires were started in separate bathrooms at Ooltewah High School. Two ninth-grade students were arrested in connection with the fires and booked on charges of aggravated arson, reckless endangerment and disrupting an assembly, according to police.
Fire officials said they have no evidence connecting Sunday’s fire with the blaze July 27 at an abandoned warehouse about six blocks north of River City Plastics.
Children younger than 18 set more than 17,000 of the 32,500 intentional fires in 2007, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
Juvenile arson and accidental fires result in more than 300 deaths and 2,000 injuries annually, as well as $300 million in property damage, according to Focus Adolescent Services, a Web site providing information, resources and support about family and teen issues.
Young people start fires for a variety of reasons, including boredom, curiosity, anger or attention, Capt. Morgan said.
In Sunday’s incident, a lack of parental supervision contributed to the children running around the neighborhood and causing trouble, she said.
Mr. Garner said that, while a 10-year-old may understand a fire, he probably does not realize the magnitude of its damage.
Online: Hear Capt. Lesley Morgan talk about the incident. Read previous stories. Comment.
“I think it’s fair to say that a 10-year-old boy does not really understand or comprehend the impact that his actions are having, not only on the business itself but on the surrounding community, on the firefighters,” he said.
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