Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Douglas County District Judge David Gamble handed down the sentences Tuesday after the boys addressed the victims of the fire and asked for their forgiveness. Gamble fined the boys' parents $10,000 each.
The boys, aged 13 and 14, were charged with one felony count of destruction of property by fire and a misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal.
The two were torching gasoline-soaked lizards when one animal ran into the brush and started the blaze June 23.
Four homes were destroyed in the 3,400-acre inferno and more than 3,000 people were evacuated. Damage is estimated at $2 million, plus the $2.5 million it cost to douse the flames.
The judge ordered both boys to spend 100 hours working at the local animal shelter and the remaining 400 hours helping revitalize the devastated area. Both also were ordered to spend time in a prison awareness program.
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