Table Rock Fire: Man faces impossible task of paying $391,000 in two years

BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — Taylor Kemp, the man who started the Table Rock fire, is ordered to pay nearly $400,000 for the cost of fighting the fire.

But how is he going to do that?

The young man has just two years to pay the restitution. It's a tall order for anyone, let alone a teenager.

If he doesn't, Kemp can be charged with contempt of court and a probation violation.

Furthermore, Kemp's sentence puts everyone in Boise on notice. The Table Rock fire burned a scar onto the minds of everyone who witnessed it.

The massive blaze started with a firework lit by this young man who now is left with the bill for the damage he caused.

He'll have to fork over $391,790.45 to be paid before the end of his two-year probation, which is more than $16,000 a month.

KBOI 2News asked Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan if he feels the punishment fits the crime.

"I think he definitely got a harsh penalty and I get that," Doan said. "He's a young man and I don't want to ruin anyone's life, so that's a tough question to answer if it was worth it or if he deserved it."

None-the-less Doan said breaking the law has consequences and when you put people's lives on the line the consequences are going to be worse.

"The community needs to know that and they need to be prepared that when they set that roman candle off when they set that firework off that the damage that can be caused they might be held accountable for it," said Doan.

While Doan believes it is important Kemp pay for his crime he recognizes the teenager isn't the only one responsible for the Table Rock fire.

The Chief adds those with the power to prevent these occurrences need to step up.

"What we really need is for our Idaho state legislature to take this serious and change the crazy state law that allows us to buy illegal fireworks," said Doan.

The same illegal fireworks Kemp legally purchased which started this fire and changed the young mans life forever.