One article said he was a pre-teen.
Well, that’s what “boy” says to me. It would be another story if it was an older teenage punk who knew what he was doing.
When I was about 6, I think, a friend of mine and I got hold of some matches, were playing with them, and managed to set a field of dry grass on fire. Pretty scary.
Fortunately the surrounding woods were green and moist, and the fire department got it out.
I certainly learned my lesson, just running for my life as the flames shot out of control. No need for community service, it wasn’t something I would ever do again.