Money Is No Solution in Fire Case

It is absolutely unconscionable that the Ventura County Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service are preparing to demand millions of dollars in restitution for the full costs of the Ranch fire in Upper Ojai, as opposed to looking at requesting alternative punishment for the two teenagers who admitted accidentally starting the fire.

Emphasis is on the word “admitted.” That there was an admission, that there was an attempt to put the fire out and that there was an offer to rebuild and work on community service projects shows conscience and responsibility on their part.

Surely, all of the affected parties would benefit from the lessons learned from these two individuals if they were given a chance to rebuild and serve. In fact, rebuilding and community service could conceivably make the job of the firefighters easier by educating young people to the need to be responsible for their decisions and actions.

I have lived in a fire-sensitive area of the Ojai Valley for more than 12 years. Fires are very serious, and intentional arson cannot be tolerated. The 4,300-acre Ranch fire was an accident, albeit a stupid one, but an accident nonetheless.

Ventura County and the Ojai community have experienced arson. In some arson cases, much smaller fines were assessed and jail time was avoided. In one notable arson case, in which an Ojai man set fire to a few city buildings, his punishment was much less severe than that considered for the two teens.

I would like to see an accounting of fire restitution fines levied and those actually collected by the county and the Forest Service. I think we would see that the fines were settled for pennies on the dollar.

To have these two young men labeled felon arsonists for an accidental fire would create a lifetime stigma. That stigma would be nearly impossible to overcome in today’s employment market, making it all but impossible for them to provide monetary restitution.

However, the sweat, toil and possible tears of rebuilding property and of community service could be a lesson that would bring out the mettle of these young men and teach them the importance of respecting property, stewardship, a deeper sense of community and the need for fair and just punishment for transgressions.

Jail time would not serve the same potential purpose in these young men’s lives as would responsible hard work.

Unless the county Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service can show like fines for like crimes, the idea of a monetary solution for an accidental fire is ludicrous. If the victims feel that rebuilding will work for them, then it should work for everyone else.