Twelve-year old arsonist put on probation for fire which damaged Durand library

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DURAND - A 12-year-old boy was put on probation for a year for starting a fire that caused $115,000 in damage to the community library in Durand in January.

The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram obtained juvenile court records showing that the youngster pleaded guilty to an arson charge – and two similar counts were dropped, along with three counts of criminal damage. He was also accused of starting minor fires at the Family Dollar store in Durand in mid-January, and the Dairy Queen in Wabasha in late January.

Surveillance videos linked the youngster to the library and Dairy Queen fires. Durand school students also use the community library, and junior-and-senior high principal Bill Clouse wrote that the boy’s quote, “hasty decision placed nearly 600 people in danger.” He said the damages were repaired, and insurance paid for most of it. But Clouse said trust-and-emotions were affected on the boy’s part – and his actions quote, “caused harm that cannot be measured.”

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