4 Teen Girls Who Set House on Fire Say They Did It Because They Were Bored

Four teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 14 were arrested on juvenile court charges of setting a fire that destroyed an unoccupied house earlier this month. The fire sent a police officer and firefighter to the hospital.

Police in Ferndale, PA say a 12-year-old and three 14-year-olds are facing charges of felony arson, causing a catastrophe, trespassing, and endangering another person.

According to Chief John Blake, the girls started the April 3rd fire in a duplex using aerosol sprays like bug spray and Lysol.

“They placed a shoebox on the couch and threw lit pieces of paper into the box that had been sprayed with accelerant,” Blake said.

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The girls were immediately deemed suspects after they shared a Snapchat video of themselves starting the fire. Photos later surfaced of the girls standing outside the scene to watch the fire unfold.

When police asked them why they set the fire, the girls told them "they were bored,” Blake said.

One police officer was hospitalized with smoke inhalation, and the fireman was treated at the hospital for a medical issue.

All four teens were released to custody of their parents until their cases are heard in court.

Chief Blake says the investigation is still ongoing and that damages are still being calculated.

“I’m just thankful the injuries weren’t more severe, or these girls could be facing homicide charges,” he said.

The four girls are also being investigated in connection to an attempted arson earlier in the day when a nearby home was broken into and a mattress was set on fire.

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