YellowDog
25th June 2013, 21:16
http://www.thecivilian.co.nz/father-lights-fire-so-that-son-can-see-fire-truck/
A North Shore man has destroyed his home this morning after lighting a fire to show his son how a fire truck works.
An Auckland father who lit a fire so that his son could see a fire truck up close and personal has said he’s “pretty satisfied” with how the whole situation turned out.
42-year-old Dennis Lee lit the fire at his North Shore property at around 11am this morning, in hopes of showing his 6-year-old son what a fire engine looked like in real life. Lee said he used sticks and matches to start the fire in the family living room, which quickly spread to other parts of the house.
At the scene, he told emergency services that he’d decided not to pretend there was a fire, as he didn’t want to waste anyone’s time.
“Yeah, look, every other week you see a story in your local paper about some idiot who calls up and says there’s a fire or a burglary when there hasn’t been,” said Lee. “I didn’t want to be one of those dickheads. I only called the fire department because there was a real emergency.”
Police say that Mr. Lee’s house has been significantly damaged by his actions, and is likely unlivable. His neighbours were reportedly very distressed by the fire, which spread so far as to reach one neighbour’s lawn.
68-year-old widow Phyllis Griffin, who lives next door to Mr. Lee, believes that her cat may have been caught in the blaze.
“He denies it,” she said, “but I don’t know how else you’d explain it coming home on fire.”
Emergency services said they were disappointed in Lee for his behaviour, but intended to let him off with a warning. They were, however, monitoring the situation, as they were afraid of what might happen if his son wanted to see a police car or the inside of an ambulance.
A North Shore man has destroyed his home this morning after lighting a fire to show his son how a fire truck works.
An Auckland father who lit a fire so that his son could see a fire truck up close and personal has said he’s “pretty satisfied” with how the whole situation turned out.
42-year-old Dennis Lee lit the fire at his North Shore property at around 11am this morning, in hopes of showing his 6-year-old son what a fire engine looked like in real life. Lee said he used sticks and matches to start the fire in the family living room, which quickly spread to other parts of the house.
At the scene, he told emergency services that he’d decided not to pretend there was a fire, as he didn’t want to waste anyone’s time.
“Yeah, look, every other week you see a story in your local paper about some idiot who calls up and says there’s a fire or a burglary when there hasn’t been,” said Lee. “I didn’t want to be one of those dickheads. I only called the fire department because there was a real emergency.”
Police say that Mr. Lee’s house has been significantly damaged by his actions, and is likely unlivable. His neighbours were reportedly very distressed by the fire, which spread so far as to reach one neighbour’s lawn.
68-year-old widow Phyllis Griffin, who lives next door to Mr. Lee, believes that her cat may have been caught in the blaze.
“He denies it,” she said, “but I don’t know how else you’d explain it coming home on fire.”
Emergency services said they were disappointed in Lee for his behaviour, but intended to let him off with a warning. They were, however, monitoring the situation, as they were afraid of what might happen if his son wanted to see a police car or the inside of an ambulance.