Aliso Viejo Fire Started by Potheads

Saturday night I posted an item on a brush fire in Aliso Viejo that got my attention. It was quite a show with the fire department helicopter making water drops nearly on my head.

It turns out the fire was started by local youths with a penchant for pot:

ALISO VIEJO – A teenage boy smoking pot with two others caused a fire that burned more than 7 acres over the weekend, threatening homes and apartments near the blaze, fire authorities said Tuesday.

It took about 45 firefighters an hour to suppress the flames after the fire was reported Saturday night on an embankment at Glenwood Drive and Moulton Parkway. Authorities said the parents of the three teenagers have been notified that they may be billed for the cost of fighting the fire, said Capt. Mike Blawn of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Fire officials learned of the three teenagers when one of them confessed to starting the fire, Blawn said. The two other boys confirmed the story.

Officials said that the three 16-year-old boys were smoking marijuana on the embankment when one of them lighted a branch of a tree with a lighter. The fire quickly got out of the boys' control and the three boys ran, Blawn said.

No one was injured in the fire and no structures were damaged.

The three boys are also being required to enroll in Fire FRIENDS, a national program to educate minors to the dangers of intentionally setting fires, Blawn said.

An estimated cost of the damage has not yet been established, Blawn said.

The identity of the three boys has not been released because they are minors.

Bill 'em, Dano. That kind of stupidity should be rewarded with an invoice for the multiple fire engines and the helicopter that responded. I guess you could call it a joint effort on the part of the Orange County Fire Authority.