Officials seeking end to arson fires
More than 20 deliberate fires in past six months
Someone is lighting fires in the South County and Tulare County Fire and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department want to put a stop to it.
In the past week there have been two arson fires in the South County area, but County Fire Battalion Chief Joe Rosa said that since October there have been more than two dozen arson fires, most ag related.
It is the ag connection that has gotten the attention of Sheriff Mike Boudreaux’s Ag Crimes Unit which was called out twice in the past week on the two Ducor fires.
“We’ve had several structures and all have been ag related,” said Rosa Thursday. So far, all the fires have been to ag equipment or unoccupied structures. No one has been injured in any of the fires.
On Thursday, the sheriff’s department reported their ag crimes unit was called on Wednesday to assist fire investigators on a fire at Avenue 168 and Road 204 near Poplar. That fie was to a large pile of used grape stakes and investigators found tire track evidence as well as accelerants used to start the fire.
The fire spread to the Tule River bank, burning a large portion of that river bank. Witnesses on scene provided leads and investigators are actively pursuing them.
On May 25, TCSO detectives joined with County Fire Prevention investigators on a suspicious fire involving a stack of grape stakes approximately 300-feet long and 12-feet wide that had been staged for future harvesting on Road 208, north of Avenue 56 in the Ducor area
“We’re trying to bring the person responsible to justice,” said Rosa, but noted arson in rural areas is difficult to solve.
“The areas are so rural, it’s hard to have eyes on every single area. That’s why we need the help of the public,” said Rosa.
He said if anyone notices anything suspicious to call 9-1-1 to notify authorities, especially if a fire is involved. He asks that people look for anything that could be used in the investigation, especially a person or vehicle description.
“We’re just trying to
gather as much information as we can,” he said.
The charge of arson is a felony and if anyone is injured or killed in an arson fire — even a person fighting or responding to a fire — then charges can go up as high as homicide.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Det. R. Gunderman or Sgt. Chad Rhyman with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 735-1898. They can also call 24 hours a day at 733-6218 or anonymously, by accessing the Tipnow page at tcso@ tipnow.com.