My God! I suppose none of you "lock 'em up for life" people never did anything wrong or stupid or out of ignorance. Yes, you ALL did. Maybe not with these consequences, but yes, we've all done things that COULD have been devastating.
Let's say that those of you who snuck around to smoke dropped the fire from your lit cigarette in your grandfather's barn. Let's say that when the fire completely engulfed the barn, it collapses and hurts someone trying to put out the fire. Let's also say you admit to dropping your cigarette and starting the fire. Yes, you need to be punished, but life in prison? You need your ass blistered, grounded, scolded and then you need loved.
Grandpa lost his barn just like these people have lost their homes. Nothing will get the homes back just like nothing will get the barn back. Maybe a lesson is learned here.
joejack is right. Those hills are full of fuel. This happens periodically. Maybe not this bad, but it does happen. That is a dry area and shit happens. These people who build there know that. Insurance companies know that, and they offer outrageous prices for fire insurance in that area. hmmm....maybe they know something the home owners didn't. ya think?
Come on people, get real. This family can't begin to repay the billions lost. The child can't begin to right the wrong. Learn from this and move on.