Pittsburgh Boy, 10, Charged with Setting Fires

Police in Pittsburgh have charged a 10-year-old boy with arson for allegedly setting eight small fires in and around his home.

Police arrested the boy after they say he and a younger sister set five fires over the weekend and three more on Monday.

Detective Michael Burns says the children admitted setting the fires. Even though they were quickly put out, Burns says the fires endangered not only the family home, but adjoining houses.

City firefighters had to be called out to deal with five of the blazes.

The boy is charged with arson, criminal mischief and risking a catastrophe. He is not being publicly identified because of his age.

Burns says the boy’s 9-year-old sister was not charged because state law prohibits charging children younger than 10.