Jennifer Pedranti, a star of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” has confirmed that her son was among a group of minors involved in starting a brush fire in Ladera Ranch, California.
The fire, which burned seven acres of dry vegetation, erupted Tuesday afternoon near Narrow Canyon Road and Acaster Way, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which did not reach any homes and resulted in no injuries or significant property damage.
Pedranti addressed the incident in a statement posted to her Instagram Story on Thursday, acknowledging the rumors about her family's connection to the fire. "He and others were involved," Pedranti wrote, without specifying which of her four sons was involved.
She stated that she and her ex-husband take the incident "very seriously," calling the behavior "unacceptable." "This is a tough learning moment for our son and our family," Pedranti added.
The Orange County Fire Authority reported that the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and several minors were interviewed at the scene. No arrests have been made.
Law enforcement sources indicated to TMZ that it is standard procedure for minors who accidentally start fires without causing property damage to complete fire safety education rather than face criminal charges. Pedranti confirmed that her son will be required to take a fire safety course and will also face consequences at home.
"There were no arrests made, but consequences for actions are being put into place. He will be taking a fire safety course to make sure a mistake like this never happens again," Pedranti stated. "There are consequences within our family and we will make sure our son learns from this accident."
Pedranti shares five children with her ex-husband William Pedranti: Harrison, Dawson, Greyson, Dominic, and Everleigh. The reality star did not disclose which of her sons was involved in the incident.
Pedranti is preparing to return as a full-time cast member for the upcoming 20th season of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” which is set to premiere Thursday.