Culture & Society

Webcam captures ‘two idiots’ taking selfie, setting Key West Southernmost Point landmark ablaze

January 2, 2022 | | Print Article

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Cops are on the lookout for two men who apparently decided to ring in the new year by allegedly setting fire to a Christmas tree that was placed adjacent to an iconic Key West, Fla., tourist attraction.

The alleged arson or vandalism at the Southernmost Point buoy was captured on a streaming web cam, which also appears to depict the duo taking selfies with their smartphones. Presumably they were unaware that external cameras were recording them at the same time.

“Authorities said two males lit a Christmas tree on fire in front of the buoy around 3:30 a.m. Saturday and the flames charred sections of the colorful, 4-ton…cement monument that reads ’90 miles to Cuba, Southernmost Point, Continental U.S.A.,'” the Associated Press reported. “Archival webcam images of the buoy from a marketing company shows two people lighting the tree on fire near the marker, with the flames leaving a large black burn mark on the monument.”

The marketing company is Two Oceans Digital. “Screenshots of the act were widely circulated on Facebook early Saturday in posts where people expressed outrage,” Florida Keys News reported about the incident at what it described as the area’s most-famous landmark.

Responding firefighters extinguished the flames. Later that day, some visitors reportedly posed for pictures at the damaged site.

Watch:

“The red, yellow, black and white marker resembles a giant marine navigational buoy…Artists restored the monument after it was damaged during Hurricane Irma in 2017,” AP recalled.

In the ongoing investigation, Key West police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact them.

On Facebook, the Key West PD indicated that the alleged perpetrators are suspected of criminal mischief and that the fire caused “extensive damage” to the monument.

In place since 1983, the landmark is 12 feet tall, seven feet wide, and is situated 18 feet above sea level.

“If it’s determined that the amount of damage to the buoy exceeds $1,000, then the criminal mischief offense would be considered a third-degree felony in Florida and punishable by up to five years imprisonment as well as a fine up to $5,000,” the Washington Post explained.

All suspects are presumed innocent until or unless they are convicted in a court of law of any alleged crimes.

Twitter is weighing in on the incident (*warning for language). Here is just a few of the many reactions:

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