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Fire starter
About me, how this began
I am a sixteen year old lad and have lived all my life in Somerset. Some time ago I became involved in a crazy situation without thinking about what I was doing or the consequence.
I want to share a little of my experience and the effect it has had on myself and others and to share information that might make readers of this article think before acting impulsively or recklessly.
We have all been in situations where we have been messing about with our mates and usually this leads to merely having a laugh - hanging out and spending time together, which is how it was for me. Until one day “hanging out” we lit several small fires for a laugh. At least, that’s what we intended to happen.
Causing a lot of damage to people’s property and cars. That’s bad enough but now I realise that it could have been so worse. It could have led to loss of life.
Only it wasn’t a laugh
Nobody set out to kill anyone that day but it could easily have happened.
It got out of control
I now want to share what I have learnt about the dangers of firesetting and the consequences so that others do not find themselves in a similar situation to mine, or worse.
The how’s, where’s and why’s of reckless firesetting
I guess everyone has lit matches and watched them burn. As a rule this can seem quite innocent with enjoyment got from seeing a match burst into life and burn so easily and quickly. For most people it stops there but some without thinking of the dangers take it further setting fire to aerosol cans, old cars, sheds, stubble fields and store of hay and straw. Young people often do this secretively with match burning, for example, often done in their bedrooms where they could easily be trapped if the situation went wrong and got out of hand. What begins as a laugh and a bit of experimentation can result in consequences far beyond a young person’s intention. Fire can never be seen as fun. Fire kills and destroys property.
Dangers of firesetting
How it can happen
Small fires quickly become big fires
Fires can kill and endanger life through burning and smoke inhalation
Fires can cause explosions
Fires can spread to residential areas
Fires can be a danger to the lives of fire-fighters who never know what dangerous materials might be stored at a property, ie asbestos roofing, chemicals fuel etc
Fires can cause toxic gas clouds that can travel for miles
Livestock can be endangered
Victims... who did we affect?
In my case there were lots of victims. I was shocked by this because we never intended to hurt anyone or anything. We had meant to burn a pile of paper, a bale of hay and some rubbish and boxes. ALL GOOD FUN WE THOUGHT …… something to do when you are bored and want a bit of excitement or fun with your friends ….
So, who were they ………. They were several families, a farmer, an elderly lady, a shop owner and the owner of a skip company who were directly affected by what we did. These people not only had their property, cars and businesses destroyed and damaged, but there was also a greater and in the long term, more damaging outcome. They have been shocked and traumatised by what happened and will always remember the ferocious fires they saw that night. Memories of fear they will have with them forever.
In a way my own family were victims as well because they have had to live with the consequences for me of being arrested, questioned and charged and all the upset and worry this has caused them. Because the fires were all within the community in which I live, I think there were probably many more people who were affected by this happening close to where they live and may have been shocked and worried by what happened.
We never intended to affect anyone but caused damage and trauma to a great many people which could have endangered lives...all for what we thought was a bit of a laugh...how wrong we were
The legal consequences for firesetters
Arson is a very serious crime and can lead to an individual being charged with either Arson for setting fire to property or Arson with intent for endangering life. The possible outcome for anyone getting involved in this sort of activity is that they will have a lengthy Court Order or, in the worse case scenarios, find themselves in youth custody. SO BEFORE YOU LIGHT A MATCH think a little further than that first burst of flame.
THINK about sitting in a police cell, being questioned and then charged, feeling frightened and alone. ULTIMATELY THINK about having to appear in Court for what you have done
FINALLY...THINK AGAIN
My life now...The bigger picture
Having had my bit of so called fun I was arrested, questioned, charged and before the Youth Court. A horrible experience that I found very difficult.
The Court put me on a twelve month Referral Order which has several requirements that I have to complete. They are:-
• £1,000 fine which I am still paying.
• Forty hours Community Service where I have to do work for the community
• Several sessions with my case holder at the Youth Offending Team
I have had to look long and hard at why I did what I did and how to change my attitude to firesetting and doing things without thinking about the consequences.
I now feel I have learnt a lot and that my life is moving on. I am very busy with a full-time college course and part-time evening work. I have very little spare time now to just hang about and get involved in reckless activities that could get me into trouble.
Life is busy. Life is positive. Life is good.
Thankfully for me my life is now going in a very different direction and firesetting for me is in the past. I hope if you are reading this it is never in your past, present or future.
REMEMBER...
FIRES ARE NOT FUN...FIRES ARE DANGEROUS...FIRES CAN KILL.
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