Kids Charged With Starting Drive In Fire
Prosecutors in Bannock County have decided to charge two children who police say started the Drive In Fire on Aug. 15, juvenile prosecutor Ian Service said.
The two 8-year-olds are facing charges of arson in the third degree, which is a felony, Service said. A third child was there when the fire started, but Service said investigators determined he wasn’t as responsible.
The two kids are facing penalties up to 180 days in a juvenile detention center. Service said the most likely punishment will be lots of hours of community service.
Service said Bureau of Land Management officials put the cost of fighting the blaze at $750,000 not including other agencies or cleanup costs. Any restitution ordered by the judge would be the responsibility of the parents, Service said.
The Drive In Fire burned more than 1,200 acres and burned one home to the ground. It started near south of Pocatello near South 5th Avenue and Drive In Road, which is how the fire got its name.
