A couple of fireworks thrown into the forest started a  nearly 50,000 acre destruction. Judge John Olsen ordered the young boy to pay 36 million dollars in restitution for his ‘ recklessly’ igniting the fire.

The fire burned for three months in Eagle Creek. Resulting in evacuations of over 100 people from their homes and 153 hikers stranded at the Oregon-Washington border during fall of 2017.

The teen confessed to many accounts including, depositing burning material of forest service land, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and reckless burning.

At the time, the judge acknowledged that the boy was only 15 therefore ” cannot pay the judgment in full”. With this the court authorized ” The hood river juvenile department to establish a payment schedule”.

I asked Paul Christensen, a 15 year old boy, his thoughts. ” That’s a lot of money and weight that was just put on that boy shoulders that sucks.” ” If the judge gave me a payment to owe like that, I would understand why, cause I did a lot of damage and should pay for it literally, but 36 million is a little much.” Then he started talking about the fireworks. ” He should’ve been smart enough to know that a firework and trees don”t mix, and I think he has learned is lesson.”

The young boys defense attorneys tried to fight the payment that it was too much for a 15 year old boy, but the judge rejected their request and went on with explaining what the payment plan was and that he did the actions hes got to pay for the damage he as done to 50,000 acres of land.