LOS ANGELES , California ( CNN ) -- A boy playing with matches started a Southern California wildfire that scorched more than 38,000 acres , the Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Department said Tuesday . A firefighter talks on a radio while battling the Buckweed blaze on October 22 . The Buckweed Fire , which destroyed 21 homes on its rampage , began October 21 in the Agua Dulce community . `` Our arson explosive detectives , in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Fire Department investigators , immediately began their investigation , and during the course of the investigation , it led to a juvenile suspect , '' Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Deputy Tony Moore told CNN 's `` American Morning '' Wednesday . `` After talking with that juvenile , he admitted to playing with matches , and accidentally starting the fire in that area , '' he said . Watch what 's next for young suspect » . The boy , whose name and age were not given , is home with his parents , police said . The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney for possible charges . According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , the Buckweed Fire burned 38,526 acres . Sixty-three structures , 21 of them homes , were destroyed , and three civilians and two firefighters were injured . The sheriff 's department said the fire forced the evacuation of about 15,000 people . As of Tuesday , 18 of 23 wildfires in Southern California were completely under control , and the remainder were at least 70 percent contained , according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . The fires are blamed for 14 deaths and charred more than 508,000 acres , destroying about 1,600 homes . Five people were arrested in arson probes last week , and California Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday vowed to `` hunt down '' people responsible for setting wildfires . Authorities said Saturday they were following 1,700 tips about a white Ford F-150 pickup seen near the origin of the sprawling Santiago Fire in Orange County . Witnesses reported seeing the 1998-2004 model truck with chrome tubular running boards on Santiago Canyon Road on October 21 at about the time the Santiago Fire started . Authorities said last week they had found evidence at the scene , although they declined to describe it . `` If I were one of the people who started the fires , I would not sleep soundly right now , because we 're right behind you , '' Schwarzenegger said , urging the culprits to turn themselves in . E-mail to a friend .
`` He admitted playing with matches and starting the fire , '' says police report . Boy , whose name and age were not given , is home with his parents . Comment: