Fire Set by Children Destroys Carport
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No one was injured after two children playing with matches started a fire Wednesday evening outside a Ventura home.
The blaze started around 5 p.m. when the youngsters set fire to a piece of cardboard and threw it under a small motorboat parked in the carport at 705 S. Jazmen St., Ventura Fire Department officials said.
The carport, boat and a wooden fence at the home of Thomas Dawley were destroyed, causing $15,000 in damage.
Firefighters contained the blaze before it could spread to the house, said Ventura Fire Department Battalion Chief Bill Rigg.
Rigg said the two boys will be required to attend a series of classes designed to teach fire safety. He encourages parents to take a constructive approach in giving children lessons about fire.
“Teach them how dangerous it is but let them experience lighting matches with supervision” to satisfy their natural curiosity, Rigg said.
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