Kids, lizards and fire don't mix

Saturday will mark the 10th anniversary of the Autumn Hills fire, which claimed four homes and burned much of the area around Kingsbury.

Before June 24, 1996, Autumn Hills was named for the beautiful aspen groves which turned glorious colors in the fall. Afterward it became synonymous for a disastrous fire caused by two teenagers who didn't have anything better to do.

The two teens in question were 13 and 14 years old, unsupervised and had found entertainment dipping lizards in gasoline and lighting them on fire.

Big surprise one got loose and started a brush fire in one of the Valley's most expensive neighborhoods.

Autumn Hills was not one of the Valley's biggest fires, nor did it take the most homes, but it was very expensive. The children responsible were caught and their parents faced substantial cost for fighting the fire and repairing the damage.

Valley children got out of school on Friday. Those children have a lot of time on their hands to get into mischief.

Already, more than a dozen children have been responsible for area fires. That does not leave us feeling particularly comfortable about the upcoming fire season.

Parents should make certain their children are supervised through the summer.

Children need something to do, or they'll find their own fun. And when that fun involves fire, everybody loses.