Three Juveniles Face Possible Arson Charges After Longmont Fire

LONGMONT, CO -- Three children are suspected of starting a fire that burned 1.5 acres Sunday near McIntosh Lake in Longmont, according to the Denver Post. The trio are expected to face fourth-degree arson charges. The fire, which started in cattails at the east side of the lake around 4:15 p.m. was originally reported on the Longmont’s Fire, Police and Office of Emergency Management Facebook page.

The firefighters on site called for additional help due to the “volatility and amount of fire burning in the cattails,” the Facebook post explained. Longmont Fire spokeswoman, Molly Cropp, told the Post that cattails can be particularly dangerous fire starters, because "they are quite oily."

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Firefighters set several controlled burns in the area of the original blaze and had it contained within less than an hour.

Witnesses reported seeing the children setting things on fire in the area earlier in the afternoon, and police were able to locate all three of them. It is not clear if the cattail fire was set intentionally.

The three youths face misdemeanor arson charges and will be referred to the Longmont Community Justice Partnership, a restorative justice nonprofit. They will also be required to complete a program for juvenile fire setters according to the Facebook announcement, reports the Post.

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