A 13-year old Muskegon Heights, Michigan boy fired a flare gun that accidentally passed through a window and started a fire in the home of an 88-year old neighbor.  Police officers responding to the incident heard a faint cry for help from inside the dwelling and rescued the 88-year old and her unconscious cat.  The woman was treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and is expected to recover.  The cat was also resuscitated.

The 13-year old was charged with second degree arson and is being held at the local juvenile detention center. “We try and preach this: you can ruin your life in about 30 seconds,” a police officer said. “This young man did that. It doesn’t matter if people on Facebook call it an accident; an accident of this magnitude and you get the same charge.”

Source:

Jon Mills, “Muskegon Heights Police Officers Save 88-year-old Woman from House Fire Started by Flare Gun,”  13 ABC On Your Side (February 24, 2020).