Mother of Californian firefighter calls on arsonist to surrender
{{date|October 29, 2006}}

The mother of a [[w:firefighter|firefighter]] who died in his duties fighting the blaze in southern [[w:California|California]], has pleaded to the [[w:arsonist|arsonist]] responsible for the 40,450 acre inferno to give himself up, and that she will not judge him.

Bonnie McKay, mother to 27-year-old Jason McKay, said "I firmly believe you didn't believe that things were going to turn out the way they did, but they did. Don't let the remorse eat you alive. Come forward. I for one will try not to judge you. There is only one who can judge you."

The fire, which has claimed the lives of four firefighters and caused 95% burns to a fifth, is now 60% contained. There is a massive aerial attack on the fire in progress, making use of fire helicopters and planes to dump thousands of gallons of water onto the blaze over the canyons of [[w:Riverside County|Riverside County]]. The blaze has now destroyed as many as 27 homes, and has forced the [[w:evacuation|evacuation]] of 500 more.

== Related news ==

*{{wikinews|title=Reward for Californian arsonist now at $500,000|date=October 28, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=California wildfire kills four firefighters seriously injures one|date=October 27, 2006}}

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1238959,00.html
|title=Firefighter Mum Plea To Arsonist
|author=
|pub=Sky News
|date=October 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-28-california-wildfire_x.htm
|title=Mother of firefighter killed in California blaze asks the guilty to come forward
|author=Associated Press
|pub=USA Today
|date=October 29, 2006}}

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{{Archived}}
[[Category:Fires]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
The mother of a firefighter who died in his duties fighting the blaze in southern California, has pleaded to the arsonist responsible for the 40,450 acre inferno to give himself up, and that she will not judge him.

Bonnie McKay, mother to 27-year-old Jason McKay, said "I firmly believe you didn't believe that things were going to turn out the way they did, but they did. Don't let the remorse eat you alive. Come forward. I for one will try not to judge you. There is only one who can judge you."

The fire, which has claimed the lives of four firefighters and caused 95% burns to a fifth, is now 60% contained. There is a massive aerial attack on the fire in progress, making use of fire helicopters and planes to dump thousands of gallons of water onto the blaze over the canyons of Riverside County. The blaze has now destroyed as many as 27 homes, and has forced the evacuation of 500 more.
Fires Crime and law California United States North America