A citation charging a form of arson involving bodily injury to
others was issued Thursday to a 13-year-old boy involved in a
recent fire that injured himself and three other boys. Capt. Dennis
Johnsen, arson and explosive investigator for the Santa Clara
County Fire Department confirmed today that, after investigating
the incident, he issued the citation.
A citation charging a form of arson involving bodily injury to others was issued Thursday to a 13-year-old boy involved in a recent fire that injured himself and three other boys. Capt. Dennis Johnsen, arson and explosive investigator for the Santa Clara County Fire Department confirmed today that, after investigating the incident, he issued the citation.
The boy, he said, was not arrested but will have to meet with the county’s Juvenile Probation and will most likely be instructed to attend the Juvenile Firesetter’s Program.
The boys were playing with a flip-top lighter in a backyard on Foothill Court and doused it with white gas. Fumes in the partially empty can ignited the gas and the can exploded spraying fire on the four boys.
Three boys were treated and released but the fourth remains in the burn unit at Valley Medical Center in San Jose, Johnsen said Friday, with deep, second degree burns on his left hand and second degree burns on his face.
“His eyes, mouth and lungs are okay but he will probably be in the hospital for about a month,” Johnsen said. “It depends on how his body reacts during the next week. But, he is doing really great – his spirits are upbeat and for a boy of 13, he is doing awesome.”
The boy cited was not the one most seriously injured.
