LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 -- Prosecutors in California Wednesday were mulling over whether to file charges against a 10-year-old boy who admitted that he started a fire last week that destroyed more than 20 homes near Los Angeles.
Fire officials said it was unlikely that the boy would face criminal charges, but his parents could possibly be held civilly liable for the damage.
The boy, who has not been named by authorities, told investigators that he was playing with matches when he set fire to dry brush on Oct. 21, when strong desert winds fueled various wildfires throughout the region.
It was unclear whether the boy's parents, who help care for horses on a rural ranch, can afford to pay even a fraction of the damage the fire caused, according to a Los Angeles Times website report.
The blaze was among more than 20 devastating wildfires that destroyed about 1,800 homes and forced the evacuation of more than half a million people at one time across Southern California last week.
Authorities have said that at least two of the fires were started intentionally and vowed to bring any arsonists to justice.
Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, said prosecutors were reviewing the case, and it remained unclear when they would decide what to do with the boy.
When someone younger than 12 starts a fire, his or her actions are considered "playing with fire" and not arson, according to fire officials.
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