LONGMONT, Colo. — Three 11-year-old boys are suspected of starting a brush fire near McIntosh Lake Sunday afternoon.
Around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, fire crews with Longmont Fire Department were dispatched to the area of Harvard Street and Lakeshore Drive after receiving reports of a brush fire on the east side of McIntosh Lake, said Molly Cropp with the fire department.
When the crew arrived, they found cattails on fire near the parking area along the eastern edge of the lake.
Additional crews were requested to help put out the blaze.
The fire was contained within the hour. About 1.5 acres were burned.
Witnesses told authorities they had spotted juveniles in the area lighting things on fire. It wasn’t clear what those items were.
Police and fire investigators located the suspects — three 11-year-old boys — and Cropp said they will be charged with fourth-degree arson and referred to the Longmont Community Justice Partnership and juvenile fire setter program.
No injuries were reported.
