This is crazy! I was sitting at the computer and a neighbor boy ran over and told us there was a fire in the bark and on a bush on the side of our house. Our outside faucets are off for the season, so I grabbed bowls, filed them with water and had my kids run out and pour the water on it. It was very small and was easy to put out. This neighbor boy, his friend, and another neighbor boy were together, and they left after we got it out. My ds13 came to me with a brown rootbeer bottle that had paper of some kind and gasoline in it and was all singed. As I looked around, I noticed that on the side of our house near there, there was paper stuck under our cable wire, and the paper and the wire were all singed. I called my husband who told me to call 911, so I did. I told them it was a small fire and it was out, so they didn't need lights or sirens, but I felt we needed it investigated. About 10 minutes later they showed up in a big red firetruck. The two firemen were very nice, and checked out everything and found that there were 3 or 4 places in the bark near there where gasoline had been poured and tried to start it on fire, as well as a couple more singe marks on the wires on the side of the house. So they called the sherriff to come and investigate and make reports. So we had the firetruck and two sheriff cars out in front of our house. After they were done with what they needed to do, the firemen left. Then one of the sheriffs stayed here to "guard" the house, while the other one went to talk with the neighbor boys. They came back and said they're trying to get ahold of a parent and have their suspicions about this incident. I know who they're suspecting. Though he's kind of the wild and crazy type, I would've never guessed he'd do something like this. He's 12 years old I believe. But that's just a suspicion, the police are doing the investigation. They did measurements and took things in for evidence, and said they'd be in touch. The policemen just left. Wow, this is just crazy! The interesting thing is that I am not scared or worried about it. I think it was an isolated incident of a misguided child. I think there was no malice in it, just a curiosity and fascination with fire and things. STILL though, it's a very serious thing to have done, and I think that it is good that the firemen and police are taking it so seriously and will be following through with a complete investigation! If it can scare this boy (if he did it) into realizing that it's a criminal offense, and scare him away from ever trying something like this again, then it's a good thing! It may save his or someone else's life! Anyway, please pray for this boy, or whoever did this! And thank God that it wasn't more serious! Thanks so much!
!!! Let's hope it was an isolated incident, and the person involved realizes how serious the consequences COULD have been! Am glad the boys noticed it right away!
The "suspect" is one of the boys that came and told us about it. The Policeman said his story wasn't quite jiving, and a few other things that are making them lean that direction. He, of course, couldn't tell me all the details. That's why I want prayer for this boy, especially. He COULD be a really good person, but he just as well could head the wrong direction. He's had a couple of other incidences, not this big, but still not good. If he's led the right direction now, he could be a decent citizen.
I'm glad your all safe. How tragic this boy is starting to do such dangerous things so early. Your in such a small town, I'm surprized it didn't draw media attention. (If the kid does it again, I'm sure it will.) Hopefully the presence of the police will be a deturant.
Wow! I am praying for this boy. Thank God you were all protected. When I was pregnant with Emma, I was sleeping on the couch and I woke up to somebody pounding on my door. When I opened the door, all I could see was smoke. The lady told me that my house was on fire. Somebody poured oil in the side yard and started it on fire. About four people pulled over on the street and were using the water hose and shovels to throw dirt on it. It burned down two huge trees, a portion of the side yard, and spread to some of the field, but thankfully it never touched the house. The lady seen the flames and thought it was my house that was burning because it was up against it but it actually never touched it. The fire department showed up and put it out but they couldn't find out who did it. They only knew that oil was spread on the ground and set on fire. I am glad you are all safe and that it was brought to your attention before it spread. Patty
Don't forget to call the cable company (or which ever service the wires were for) so they can be replaced, even if you don't use cable, you may forget about it some day and if you ever do use it or move, someone may get hurt if the wires cause a fire from being singed.
AND: I bet your feeling a bit better about the bad storms, now, if those bark pieces weren't damp that gasoline would have started something water couldn't put out. Again. Thankful your safe.
The more I think about it... Assuming the boy did do it, maybe and hopefully he felt sorry about what he did and this is why he told you. I sure hope so. Patty
Deena, this happened to my sis, Beth, on the night before Halloween. They had put out a couch for the garbage truck and woke up the next morning to find out it had been set on fire. The scary thing was that the person from the fire dept. mentioned something about their connection to the military as her dh is AD Air Force. This really freaked her out because tension is so high up there that they don't allow the personnel to wear their uniforms except in the building where they work. She has put out none of her Support the Troops items that she would normally display. I don't know if they ever found out who did it. I'm glad that you found out but it is scary that anyone would even do something like that!
Wow, Deena...I am so glad you are all safe and sound. And it is a blessing that you are not scared by it. How about your kids? Are they feeling scared at all by it?God is so good and His protection was clearly surrounding you all today!
I, too, really admire your attitude! It's great that you all are not traumatized! I hope the young man gets help.
Thanks guys. I hope he gets help too. It's not finalized that he's the one that did this, but things don't look like it was anyone else. And I DID think of that---what if that would've been done this past summer when it was so dry?! It could have been much worse! The police said they would keep in touch and let us know how things are going with the case, and the firemen invited us to the firestation to see through it and for the kids to take a ride a couple times around the station in the firetruck! I was very impressed with their caring attitudes, concern and kindness to me, the kids, and even our dog! In the next couple weeks or so (hard to know when, with the holidays), the kids and I will make some banana bread and cookies, I think, and take some to the fire station and to the police station and thank them for what they did today! I guess my attitude was a gift given me today. I prayed about it, and just felt peace in return. The kids are fine too, though it has been quite the adventure! I think God wants the concern upon the boy, I really do. That's why I asked for prayer for him! This could turn into something really bad if left unchecked, so, again, I ask for many prayers that this boy finds someone to look up to that will help guide him and that this will put a scare in him about the direction he was heading, and that he shouldn't go that way! Thanks, you guys are great!!!
Deena, I am so happy you all are ok. I do agree with Amy you need to call the cable people and get that fix as soon as possible. We will pray for the boy and hope he will get the help he needs. Where were his parents? I am so glad everything turned out ok. Hang in there girlfriend we will be thinking of you.
Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me Kris---The Fire chief that was here first came to the door and asked for the phone book. When I brought it to him, he said, "If you don't mind I will call the cable company and the gas company (there were some ashes on top of the gas meter, so it needed to be checked out. They already came and said there are no problems with the meter, just the superficial on the outside, praise the Lord!) for you." I told him by all means to go ahead! I don't like calling them! I thought that was an extra step he didn't have to take, but did! How nice! So those things are actually taken care of. Thankyou!
Deena, I am thanking God for your family's safety and that the boy came and told you what was going on. I hope whoever did this is caught and will get the help and punishment they need. Beth
Deena- I just read this and am so glad things are okay! Of course, prayers for the boy(s) involved, and one of thanksgiving too! I think a plate of goodies would be a nice gesture, they sound like a department that is really people-oriented to go the extra for you. momandteacherx3
Glad everything is alright, Deena. It is possible the kid was messing around and felt bad and that is why he was the one who told the police. Never know. Like you said, he could be a good kid. Kids can do some crazy things. At least I hope it was only a misguided attempt to see something "cool". It may even be some type of cry for attention. I am not making any excuse for his behavior at all. I am just trying to explore the possibility that maybe it was a good kid who did a really bad thing.
He didn't tell the police, he told us that a bush next to our house was on fire, and he said he saw it from his porch (which the police said would probably not have been possible). I'm the one that called 911 and asked them to send someone to investigate! I think the police are getting down to the one that for sure did this. It was a very amatuer job, but still VERY serious and dangerous! The person that did this actually set some burning paper (soaked in gasoline) on top of the gas meter! You know how gas can leak? Well, that's so scary, cuz he could've blown himself and our house up with something like that if the natural gas fumes would have caught on fire and exploded! We are just very thankful for God's protecting hand over us yesterday!!!
I got an update call from the sheriff this morning. He said they are closing in on the "person-of-interest", and had a couple more talks to do and things to go through before making his report. That's not much more than what they said yesterday, but I appreciate him staying in contact! The cable company guy came by too. He couldn't have been much over 20. He said he'd been married for almost a year, and that his wife just had a baby last Wednesday! He asked my daughter if she was out of school now, and dd said she homeschools. Then this guy said his wife was homeschooled through 10th grade, and that he thinks he wants their child to be homeschooled also! So I, of course, put in a good word for homeschooling! I thought that was interesting!
