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Teens admit setting brush fire by accident

The middle schoolers said they had tried to put the fire out but couldn't.

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 24, 2006

TAMPA - Three 14-year-old Benito Middle School students told investigators Thursday that they were responsible for the blaze that burned 7 to 10 acres of brush and threatened nearby New Tampa homes.

The boys said they were in the woods near Pebble Creek and Misty Creek subdivisions Wednesday "screwing around" with a lighter and burning pine needles, Capt. Bill Wade said.

When dry debris caught fire, the boys tried to extinguish the sparks by throwing dirt and stomping on the flames.

But a dried-out palmetto bush caught fire and the flames spread quickly, leaving the boys in a panic, they told investigators.

So they ran.

By the time they got to a phone near 1:30 p.m., they already heard sirens screaming toward the fire, so they didn't bother dialing 911, they told investigators.

The 40 firefighters responding were able to bring the blaze under control within an hour and a half, but not before flames spread within 100 feet of several nearby homes. Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.

Witnesses reported seeing four youths run from the woods just before the fire became visible.

Wade said the teenagers, when located on Thursday, were forthcoming about all the details. Fire Rescue did not release the boys' names.

The State Attorney's office will decide whether to bring charges against the youths.

[Last modified March 24, 2006, 02:15:43]