There have been some people in Albuquerque, who have called out for severe punishments of the kids and/or of the parents of the kids. They have called out for jail sentences and repayment of the cost of putting out the fire.
A woman called in to a radio station that was discussing this topic. She identified herself as being a resident of Los Alamos. She talked about the fire that occurred in Los Alamos in the year 2000, as compared to the one in Albuquerque.
In May of 2000, the Forest Service deliberately started a controlled burn, against the advice of nearly everyone who was asked for advice. The fire came very close to burning down the entire town of Los Alamos, was stopped by incredibly brave fireman, who came from all over the state of New Mexico. They stood up against a fire storm, and stopped it. However, it did consume several hundred houses. The entire town had been evacuated, and some people did not return to their homes for over a week.
This fire was started by a government agency. The government promised to pay for all damages. They did not. The only payments made to people who lost their homes was made by insurance companies. No insurance, no payment. Nobody in government lost their jobs because of this. Numerous people in Los Alamos lost several weeks income, and were forced to move out of their apartments because they had no money for rent.
The fire in Albuquerque did no damage to structures. Even though it will take twenty to forty years for the trees to grow back, it is next to the river, there is plenty of water for new trees. The fire in Los Alamos destroyed the entire forest around the town. It will take thirty to sixty years for the trees to grow back. There is no river, and there is very little rain.
Whatever is done to the boys in Albuquerque, in the name of justice, should be no more than what happened to the people that burned down the forest around, and the houses in, Los Alamos.
