A Caddo Parish first-grader admits to starting a church fire in Vivian on Sunday. The 7-year-old told investigators he broke a window on a door at the Church of Christ on Saturday, but coming back Sunday after the opening was patched with cardboard. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the child snuck into the church with the help of that opening.
“He subsequently set that cardboard on fire, also some toilet tissue in the bathroom and left. That small fire erupted into burning the whole building down,” said Browning.
The child told investigators he found a lighter in the parking lot. Browning says the child insisted on having no ill will or issues with the church or its congregation.
“Curiosity fire setting is a very common thing in young children. The fantasy with fire, the desire to play with matches and lighters,” said Browning.
Due to the suspect’s age, no arrest was made. Browning says this is a teachable moment for the child as well as other children.
“The message here is to educate young children that fire is not a toy, that fire is a very dangerous and very powerful being once it is set and gets out of control,” said Browning.
Browning says the building is pretty much a total loss.
