Children Playing with Lighter Start Grass Fire on Oregon Coast

Because they are age, 6 and 9, the children are not subject to criminal penalties for starting the fire.

Photo: Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

(WALDPORT, Ore. ) - Two juveniles are lucky not to be facing stiffer charges today, after they started a grass fire over the weekend near a Waldport, Oregon home.

On Saturday, at about 5:35 PM, firefighters from the Central Coast Fire Rescue responded to a fire in the beach grass on the bay near the end of NW Keady Street.

The fire was heading for a home in the area, and was within 50 feet of the home. The firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before any property was damaged.

Firefighter Tony Mooney contacted Lincoln County Deputy Chris Miller after he learned that two juveniles playing in the area had caused the fire.

Deputy Miller and Firefighter Mooney contacted the juveniles, who had returned to the scene of the fire and admitted they started the fire accidentally while one of the juveniles was playing with a lighter.

The juveniles will be completing community service with the Central Coast Fire Rescue, and will be educated on fire safety. They were released to their guardians.