Girl Tries to Escape Foster Care

February 18, 2007 permalink

A five-year-old Michigan girl who understood the meaning of "best interest of the child" set fire to her foster home in an effort to be reunited with her sister.

expand

collapse

Young Girl Starts Fire in Foster Home

Emmet County

February 15, 2007

A five year old girl may have intentionally started a fire in her foster home. The fire started around ten o'clock Wednesday night at a home on river road near Petoskey in Bear Creek Township. Officials say the homeowners are the foster parents of the five year old girl and her six year old sister. A few years ago the Fettig family lost their home to an electrical fire just after the holidays, but this time, although only a few rooms were damaged investigators say it was the cause of the fire that is making it difficult to deal with. The Bear Creek Township Fire Chief, Al Welsheimer said the five year old admitted to starting the fire in the laundry area of the home.

The fettig family opened their doors to three sisters ages five, six and ten. Recently, the ten year old girl was removed from the home because of her behavior. Welsheimer says "She [the five year old] had received a valentine from her older sister that was to burn the house down because they wouldn't have a place to live and they could live with her again." Investigators say that night the five year old girl went into the laundry room and set the basket on fire. They say the five year old knew what she was doing but didn't mean to hurt anyone. Officials say the girls are receiving counselling, but because of their ages and the situation, investigators say it is unlikely they will face any official consequences.

Source: WPBN-TV Traverse City Michigan