Four Juveniles Detained for El Medio House Fire

Two Youths Come Forward Voluntarily

Four male juveniles were apprehended last week for allegedly setting off fireworks that sparked a Nov. 9 house fire in the El Medio Bluffs.

The suspects, who range from 13 to 15 years old, were briefly held on Nov. 20 and then released to their parents, according to Los Angeles Fire Department senior arson investigator David Liske.
“It would appear that the fireworks resulted in the fire,” Liske said.
The fire consumed much of the roof and attic of a home at 16000 Aiglon Street, causing an estimated $75,000 in damage. The homeowners and some neighbors reported hearing firecracker sounds before the fire began.
Heidi Dohr, a Pacific Palisades attorney who represents one of the suspects, apologized to the victims and said her client is remorseful.
“These events have hit him like a ton of bricks,” she said. “The fact that he may have contributed to someone’s loss of their home has devastated our client.”
Dohr said her client and one other suspect voluntarily stepped forward and cooperated in the investigation. The other two suspects were removed from their school by authorities.
Dohr confirmed that the teenagers are facing charges. Because they are juveniles, their names and the charging information will remain confidential.
“They’re all really good kids. It’s just one of those stupid boy things,” Dohr said. “They had no idea of what could have been the consequences.”
After setting off the fireworks, the boys continued to play in the area for another hour without observing any smoke or fire, according to the attorney. It was only later when they heard fire trucks that they realized there was a fire.
“I think that my client’s done the right thing by stepping forward and taking responsibility, and they’ll all get through this and be better people for it,” Dohr said. “I guarantee you one thing. I know my client will never touch another firework.”
The teenager has written a letter apologizing to the homeowners and plans to hand-deliver it to them, the attorney said last week.
Liske agreed the fire does not appear to be intentional, although he added that it is illegal to set off fireworks in the City of Los Angeles. “It’s tragic that it happened,” he said. “This demonstrates, unfortunately at the kids’ and homeowners’ expense, how dangerous fireworks are.”
One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said some teenagers were shooting off fireworks in the middle of the street on the Fourth of July. Concerned neighbors reprimanded them that night. It is not clear whether those were the same teenagers as the ones suspected for the fire.
The findings of the fire investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review. At this point, no one knows what type of punishment the teenagers could face.