Teen Sentenced for Fire Caused by Bottle Rockets

A 16-year-old girl who admitted using illegal fireworks that sparked a devastating fire at a Garden Grove apartment complex was sentenced Monday to four years in the California Youth Authority.

The girl, whose name was not released because of her age, is the second of two teens sentenced in connection with the May 19 blaze that caused more than $1.5 million in damage and charred 35 units, leaving about 100 people without homes.

Investigators said they hoped the convictions would stand as a warning about the dangers and consequences of using illegal fireworks.

“This was the intentional lighting of explosives, and in this case, the explosives were illegal bottle rockets,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Mike Fell said.

“The reason why bottle rockets are illegal in California is precisely because of this. When I hear this categorized as kids playing with bottle rockets, I don’t think any members of that apartment complex who lost their personal items, valuables, and homes, thought of this was a very funny game.”

Garden Grove Fire Capt. Bill Dumas said he too believes the seriousness of the fire warranted the sentence.

“A lot of people were displaced because of this and a lot of them are having emotional trouble dealing with their losses,” Dumas said.

Investigators said the fire at the City Plaza Apartments in the 12000 block of Lewis Street was sparked by a large bottle rocket that landed on a cedar shake roof covered with dried pine needles.

Witnesses told authorities they saw the two girls lighting fireworks in the parking lot and pool area of the 100-unit complex shortly before flames broke out.

The other girl, who also is 16, admitted to charges of recklessly starting a fire. Last month, Orange County Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Frank Fasel sentenced her to a year in Juvenile Hall.

The judge gave a stiffer sentence to the second girl on Monday because she had previous dealings with the juvenile system, Fell said. He did not elaborate on the girl’s background. She will be required to serve at least two years of her sentence before being eligible for release, Fell said.

A hearing before Fasel to determine if both girls should pay restitution toward the fire damages was postponed until Oct. 28 so the judge could get more information.

Fell said he is not yet sure what the restitution might be or whether their parents might be liable for any payments. The prosecutor said he does hope the teens will continue their educations and be placed in work programs during their incarceration.

This was not the first time this year that illegal fireworks were blamed for a serious Orange County apartment complex fire. In June, illegal bottle rockets were suspected of causing an Anaheim blaze that caused about $1 million in damage and displaced 39 residents.

No arrests have been made in that fire, and there were no injuries reported in either fire.