Quick action by bystanders prevented two small fires allegedly set by an eight-year-old boy from spreading at Riverton businesses on Saturday, May 8, according to the Bifrost-Riverton Fire Department.
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An eight-year-old boy from Riverton set fires at two separate businesses on May 8. Both the Riverton and District Friendship Centre and Access Credit Union sustained minimal damage as fires were contained and extinguished in recycling and garbage bins
One fire was set in a recycling bin outside the Riverton and District Friendship Centre, while the second occurred inside the lobby of the local Access Credit Union, where a garbage bin attached to an ATM machine caught fire.
Fire Chief Jason Comeau said both incidents were reported to 911, but firefighters were not dispatched because the fires had already been extinguished by the time crews were notified. Firefighters were only required to enter the credit union to air out the lobby from smoke.
Comeau said he was contacted directly by someone from the friendship centre, who informed him both fires were already out and asked if he could speak with the child involved.
The boy and his guardian were still at the credit union when he arrived and said he spoke with the child about the dangers of playing with lighters and explained that someone could have been seriously hurt. The boy, according to Comeau, was scared and didn’t want to engage in conversation.
He added that he believes RCMP were also expected to speak with the youth.
