"Expecting 19 year old teenagers who are drunk to be calm when one of their friends are on fire is ludacris."
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Ludacris?
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Isn't he a rapper?

I would like more information on the nature of the behavior of the three men before passing judgement on the police. They may have been interfering with the police or paramedics - not obeying an order to step back and give the paramendics room to spread out their equipment and work, or something like that. Note that it says (at 11:05am) "recommending charges against", not "were arrested".

To defend myself i am not a KID. I was getting ready to leave work(at the mall) and just happened to have to wait outside where my car was blocked in by the JVL PD cars. I was able to hear a bit of what went on. The fight started out somewhere else and was carried over to the mall. I wasn't the only person there to see or hear this. Maybe if the gazette reporters were reporting on local stuff they would have been there also.

Expecting 19 year old teenagers who are drunk to be calm when one of their friends are on fire is ludacris.

Badges! We don't need no stinking badges!

stomskid, care to elaborate?

Isn't Waupun up by GreenBay? why is it in our local paper? Why don't they report on the fight that almost took place at the mall with a knife involved...That's more local then this story.

I knew someone (a teenager) who was badly burned many years ago by spraying an already hot fire with liquid charcoal starter. She wanted the coals to get hot sooner so we could all eat. There was no drinking but no one knew she was doing it and she was on fire in an instant. Luckily, someone got to her and put the fire out, but she was scarred for life.
My point is, sometimes accidents do happen and there is no one to blame for it.

I understood what NASCARFAN was trying to say. He was stating that they were all victims as well as this guy, and of course they all would be out of control when fire is a severe threat. Don't be so quick to take offense. Good grief.

Maybe these not so brilliant kids need a few weeks changing there buddies bandages in the burn unit to think about there actions. Time in jail or tickets would never compare to the smell of a burn unit and listening to your buddy scream when they change his bandages. I hope at the very least there is a judge willing to make the kids not the parents or insurance company pay the bills for the hospital.

Something bad is going to happen whenever someone utters the words "here, hold my beer a minute"

Is someone seriously comparing one of the worst terrorist acts in US history to a bonfire incident in Waupun, WI??? get some perspective, nascarfan. wow.

"I think a few weeks in a burn unit and its pain is punishment enough. I bet this kid has learned his lesson."
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Why should the 19 year old be punished for someone elses stupidity? He was just sitting nearby according to the article. It sounds like it will take more than "few weeks in a burn unit", after all they took him all the way to Madison for treatment.

I wonder if police recommended charges when everyone was running out of the twin towers in NY yelling and screaming?? Give me a break!!

"Police are recommending charges against three men at the bonfire who created a disturbance following the explosion.

Police Chief Dale Heeringa says when officers arrived at the scene, things were completely out of control, with people yelling and screaming and running around. "

Created a disturbace? I'm sure they did! A gas can exploded for christs sake! I dont think charges are necessary. I think a few weeks in a burn unit and its pain is punishment enough. I bet this kid has learned his lesson.

Yeah I have to agree that there probably was drinking involved. It seems that every year, these kids throw big parties and something like this happens. But then kids these days don't think before they do things either, add achohol and its even worse. Its too bad, but alot of kids won't learn anything from this either. But then there are plenty of adults that do the same stupid thing and have been severly burnt, and they should know better. Alittle common sense goes a long way.

"Police Chief Dale Heeringa says when officers arrived at the scene, things were completely out of control, with people yelling and screaming and running around." - What do you expect? A gas can just exploded. A friend is on the ground on fire. Who would be calm in this situation?
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On another note, how stupid are you to throw gas on a fire? Does anyone else suspect a little alcohol was involved?