Fire Marshal Asks for Public
Assistance in Intentionally Set Fires in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Jan. 24, 2006— The Missouri
Division of Fire Safety has been requested to assist the Montgomery
County Sheriff’s Department with the investigation into a series
of fires in rural Montgomery County.
During the early morning hours on Jan. 20, the Montgomery
County Fire Protection District was called to a natural cover fire
southwest of Montgomery City. This fire involved approximately 30
acres of grassland. A fire scene investigation determined the fire
had been intentionally set.
Division of Fire Safety Investigator Scott Stoneberger
said that over the last twelve months, there have been a series of
at least six intentionally set natural cover fires within this same
area. In June 2005, a vacant house at this location was deliberately
burned.
The Division of Fire Safety and the Montgomery County
Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s assistance
with the investigation of these fires.
“Although on the surface natural cover fires
may seem like a minor incidents and non-threatening, responding firefighters
place themselves at risk to personal injury by responding to and combating
these fires,” said State Fire Marshal Randy Cole.
Anyone having information concerning any of these fires
should contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at (573)
564-8084 or the Missouri Arson Hotline at 1-800-39ARSON (1-800-392-7766).
A reward of up to $5,000 is available for information leading to the
arrest of the person responsible for these fires.