Teen ordered to pay $37 million for starting forest fire

[CaptainCrunch]

Unlikely that they'll ever collect on it, but an interesting judgement


https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/judge-t...r&_gsc=c8lzMYB

HOOD RIVER, Ore. -- A teenager who started a major wildfire in the scenic Columbia River Gorge in Oregon has been ordered to pay restitution for at least the next decade, though it's unlikely the boy will ever cover his nearly US$37 million bill.


The Oregonian reports that Hood River County Circuit Judge John A. Olson issued the opinion on Monday, awarding the restitution totalling $36,618,330.24 to cover the costs of firefighting, repair and restoration to the gorge and damage to homes. Victims include the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation.

[MelBridgeman]

Crazy! Start that Go Fund Me

[Erick Estrada]

That's a lot of community work.

[activeStick]

Haha. What is the point in this kind of judgement? It won't be paid in full and it's noted that payments can stop after 10 years. Perhaps something more achievable that would also benefit the community would have been better.

[Fuzz]

It probably serves as good precedent. So if say, a company causes a fire like this, they may be able to afford it. If they fined him $500 000, a company could argue they aren't being treated fairly when they get hit with a big fine by pointing to this one.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Haha. What is the point in this kind of judgement? It won't be paid in full and it's noted that payments can stop after 10 years. Perhaps something more achievable that would also benefit the community would have been better.

I don't know. Kind of reinforces not to be a dumb arse.

[Engine09]

Johnny Cash once burnt down a forest in California, might have been the first time a person was fined and held accountable or the first time that person actually paid up.

He blamed it on the exhaust system of his truck but it's believed he was simply high and stopped to make a campfire.

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archiv...ashs-fbi-file/

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I don't know. Kind of reinforces not to be a dumb arse.

I still see plenty of idiots tossing cigarette butts out their windows or on the grass when there are local fire bans. Never underestimate how many people really don't care or consider the consequences of their acts.

[meritmat]

Good nice to see somebody being held responsible for there actions

[CaptainCrunch]

[MrCallahan]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Haha. What is the point in this kind of judgement? It won't be paid in full and it's noted that payments can stop after 10 years. Perhaps something more achievable that would also benefit the community would have been better.

Definitely sets a precedence for future judgement on cases like this in the future! I see the 10 year limit as the state recognizing that the total amount is ridiculous, but in the event this kid creates the next Facebook, wins big in Crypto Currency, wins the lottery, they can capture some of that within that time frame.

Kid still gets punished and pays for the consequences of what he did, state still gets something, with the off chance of getting more.

[calumniate]

I know a few portlanders that were pretty choked when this happened. Apparently it's a very nice spot. It was also about 37 degrees C for weeks at a time prior to the fire. Those dang 15 year olds!

[troutman]

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ticle20450592/

In an interview Monday, the 50-year-old unemployed prison guard and volunteer firefighter identified himself to the rest of the country as the person who accidentally started a blaze that forced thousands from their homes.

So far, damage estimates to properties in the Kamloops-area fire total $8.2-million, including the destruction of 39 houses, 26 trailer homes, 99 sheds and barns, as well as house contents. It doesn't include the Louis Creek sawmill, other businesses and hundreds of gutted vehicles.

Mr. Bachop said forest-fire prosecutions do not happen often, pointing to charges arising from the 1994 Grimaldi fire in Penticton as the last he can remember.

In that case, 21-year-old Jeremy Kraiger, the son of a Penticton firefighter, was sentenced to six months on electric monitoring after pleading guilty to five counts of arson. The fire destroyed 18 homes and 5,500 hectares of trees and bush. The court was told that Mr. Kraiger suffered from a mental disorder.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by MrCallahan

Definitely sets a precedence for future judgement on cases like this in the future! I see the 10 year limit as the state recognizing that the total amount is ridiculous, but in the event this kid creates the next Facebook, wins big in Crypto Currency, wins the lottery, they can capture some of that within that time frame.

Kid still gets punished and pays for the consequences of what he did, state still gets something, with the off chance of getting more.

How much exactly do they garnish from wages? That could be pretty demotivational. He'd probably pay back more in income tax if he was free to go to school and get a good paying job than get stuck trying to pay back $37 million for the next 10 years.

[gallione11]

Originally Posted by calumniate

I know a few portlanders that were pretty choked when this happened. Apparently it's a very nice spot. It was also about 37 degrees C for weeks at a time prior to the fire. Those dang 15 year olds!

Yep, it was infuriating for me. I'm grateful I did most of the hikes where the fire was over the past couple years because it will take years for it all to recover. Actually recently went on a hike across the river from part of the fire damage. Took some (crappy) phone photos of the damage. You can see the stark contrast of the greenery around it and the burned areas.

Spoiler!

Imgur album link of the above pics: https://imgur.com/a/sSKLTDU

[MrCallahan]

Originally Posted by Wormius

How much exactly do they garnish from wages? That could be pretty demotivational. He'd probably pay back more in income tax if he was free to go to school and get a good paying job than get stuck trying to pay back $37 million for the next 10 years.

I'd be curious to know that answer as well, I wonder if it'll be a set percentage of wages? As a teen, and payments can be stopped at 10 years, I'm sure it won't be much to the state at all, doubt it'd even reach $100k total, unless he lands a job making some good money.

I wonder what would happen if he decides to stay unemployed for the next 10 years?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Yeah, situational dependent, it probably makes most sense for him to just stay as a career student until he's 25. Grab a masters or PhD. Although if he's throwing around fireworks, college may not even be on the table.

[Zoller]

What if he chooses to go to school for 10 years instead of having a job?

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Zoller

What if he chooses to go to school for 10 years instead of having a job?

Hopefully if he goes to school for the next 10 years he won't be such a dumbass when he's done.

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Hopefully if he goes to school for the next 10 years he won't be such a dumbass when he's done.