Ominous Prospect for Parents

Every parent’s greatest fear is that something terrible will happen to his or her child. But not far down the list is the fear that same beloved child, in the course of just being a kid, will do something that could cause great harm to someone else and possibly vault the family into financial ruin.

So news that Ventura County and state firefighters are suing a Ventura mother and two teenagers to recover $235,000 spent fighting a 1996 brush fire sent an ominous message into many local homes.

The lawsuit was filed in Ventura County Superior Court exactly two years after the 400-acre brush fire raged through Harmon Canyon between Ventura and Santa Paula. Although flames came within yards of the expensive ocean-view homes, no buildings were damaged and no residents were evacuated.

The suit alleges that a Ventura girl and a Camarillo boy, both 15 at the time, negligently started the fire while smoking cigarettes and lighting illegal fireworks. It also charges the girl’s mother with negligent supervision.

Noting that the fire occurred two days after the Fourth of July holiday, the suit alleges that the mother “should have known” that the teens were lighting fireworks but “nevertheless failed to exercise reasonable care to prevent such conduct.”

The $235,000 figure is based on the cost of fighting the fire and the follow-up investigation and attorney’s fees to recover the costs. Such legal action is becoming increasingly common across the nation as fire agencies seek to recover firefighting costs.

“Even though the taxpayers pay for our services, some of the costs caused by negligence or intentional behavior go far beyond what the taxpayers are paying for,” said Fire Department spokeswoman Sandi Wells. “That’s where individuals need to take responsibility. Across the country, you’ll see more and more agencies going for cost recovery.”

As taxpayers, we agree that young people who intentionally or thoughtlessly cause damage should be held responsible, whether it is a spectacular case such as this one or more common incidents of graffiti or other vandalism. Yet as parents we hope a balance can be found; one careless act by two 15-year-olds should not bankrupt their families.

If this lawsuit makes it all the way to trial, it may be up to a jury to determine what punishment fits this crime.