Shed, house fires set by youth worry Behchoko residents

A recent rash of fires in Behchoko, N.W.T., has residents worried about an emerging gang culture among children.

Behchoko RCMP and residents say children as young as eight years old have been responsible for up to 14 fires over the last few months, with most fires involving grass, brush or abandoned shacks in and around the hamlet.

"I really don't like it because kids [are] making lots of fires nowadays," said Peter Mantla, whose shed was recently set ablaze. "Not only my warehouse, but other warehouses, too."

One of the most troubling fires was three weeks ago, striking a home that had about five children and a babysitter inside. Everyone escaped safely, but the blaze caused $15,000 in damage to the porch where the fire was set and the house's exterior.

Most recently, two empty trailers were burned to the ground Sunday night.

"It could happen to somebody's house," said Shirley Lafferty, who had planned to renovate the trailers.

"It could be an elder or it could be one of the parents' houses in town. And the parents are not doing nothing about it."

Authorities in the community of about 1,900, located 95 kilometres west of Yellowknife, believe teenagers are encouraging younger children to light the fires as a dare or an initiation rite for a developing youth gang culture.

Local children told CBC News that other kids write gang names on sheds and other buildings, with names including King, Bloods, Cribs and 46 Mafia.

While Lafferty blamed poor parenting in part for the recent trouble, others like Dennis Camsell said local children don't have anywhere else but the streets to hang out.

"Kids got nothing to do in this town here. You can see that," he said. "The amount of money we're getting for this community, I don't know where it's going."

The local sportsplex closed down in April due to fire code violations. While the hamlet and the local Tlicho aboriginal government are working on a $6-million facelift for the facility, the project is not expected to be complete for at least two more years.

In the meantime, hamlet officials say they're working on some short-term solutions, such as more cultural camps for youth. Community members are also considering imposing a curfew, in which parents would be fined if their children wander the streets at night.