Boy, 12, sets fire outside home, causes $90,000 in damage

A 12-year-old Costa Mesa boy was arrested but later released Friday after accidentally setting fire outside his home, causing about $90,000 in damages, authorities said.

When firefighters arrived at the scene at 4:17 p.m., they found a fire behind the boy's home in the 1500 block of Orange Avenue. A pickup truck, boat, storage shed and wooden fence were in flames.

Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Matt Grimmond said the fire started after the boy was "playing around" with matches and lighting leaves on fire.

A team of 25 firefighters extinguished the fire within 10 minutes. No one was hurt in the fire.

Police arrested the boy, but soon released him to his parents after he admitted to accidentally starting the fire.

An investigation is pending.

— Brittany Woolsey, Times Community News