Fled after the crime

Too bland: Boys set fire to hedge at skater park

They wish they had been playing with their cell phones: Out of boredom, two boys (12 and 13) set fire to the skater park in their home town of Eferding until a garden hedge caught fire. 100 meters of the hedge burned down. 

The 13-year-old was at the skater park in Eferding with a twelve-year-old Hungarian friend at around 3 p.m. on Thursday. They were sweeping up garbage with a broom they had brought with them and set fire to a pile of dry grass on the asphalt. Later, one of the two lit the adjacent hedge with his storm lighter. This caused the hedge to catch fire and the two were unable to extinguish the flames.

They fled on bicycles
When they realized the hopelessness of the situation, they fled on their bicycles. Immediately after the fire broke out, it was discovered by an employee of the neighboring driving school and a learner driver, who is also a member of the fire department. Despite the rapid deployment of the Eferding and Hinzenbach fire departments with a total of seven vehicles and around 25 men, the fire spread so quickly through the sparse hedge that around 100 meters of hedge burned down.

Fire could have reached gas storage facility
A few minutes later, the fire could have reached a company's gas storage facility. Thanks to a tip-off, the two boys were quickly identified.