Two Boys Ordered to Pay Restitution for Nevada Wildfire

March 26, 2012

Two 15-year-old boys have been ordered to pay $10,000 each in restitution for sparking a wildfire that burned six square miles south of Gardnerville, Nev., and cost an estimated $2.8 million to put out.

Gardnerville’s Record-Courier reports District Judge David Gamble imposed the statutory maximum a parent can be assessed for the actions of a juvenile.

Gamble earlier sentenced the teens to probation and ordered them to complete 500 hours of fire-related community service.

The Ray May Fire began Aug. 16 after the boys failed to properly extinguish a campfire at a makeshift fort.

The boys apologized, and their lawyer called the 3,900-acre fire an accident.

The fire burned an unoccupied Bureau of Land Management dwelling, a seasonal guest house on private land and at least five outbuildings.