2 teens arrested for starting Hawarden Fire with illegal fireworks

Three juveniles are being accused of triggering the Hawarden Fire that destroyed seven homes and damaged another 17 in the city of Riverside back in July.

City Police Chief Larry Gonzalez revealed in a press conference Thursday that it started with illegal fireworks.

"Surveillance footage captured three individuals involved in lighting of illegal fireworks in an open field in our city, followed by footage of them leaving in a silver pickup," Chief Gonzalez said.

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In collaboration with the Riverside arson investigations unit, the department's technical services unit was able to locate the pickup truck and subsequently identify the three 16-year-old suspects.

"Search warrants were obtained and served at their homes where electronic devices were seized as part of this investigation as well," said Gonzalez.

Riverside police arrested two of the teens and filed charges against the third. Twenty-seven charges of willful and malicious firesetting were filed against the juveniles, whose alleged actions resulted in an estimated $28 million in damage.

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