Officials search for leads in arson case
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 10:22 AM PDT
VALE — Local authorities are seeking information regarding the individual or individuals who ignited eight fires in the Vale area Monday — on Rhinehart Butte, east of town, along Lytle Boulevard, south of town, and in the area of Country View Golf Course, between Vale and Cairo Junction.
“They are all arson,” United States Bureau of Land Management Vale District Public Information Officer Mark Wilkening said.
Four of the blazes were on BLM land and four were on private land.
“All of them were set from a paved road,” he said.
Wikening said officials believe that someone saw something or someone suspicious.
“We need the public’s assistance,” he said.
Another concern, Wilkening said, is that people flooded the 911 dispatch with reports about the fire on Rhinehart Butte, to the extent no calls about the other fires could get through.
Anyone with information is asked to call Wilkening at (541) 473 6218. BLM is the lead agency on the investigation, he said.
In addition, four fires of suspicious origin were started in the Huntington area shortly after midnight Monday morning. Fires two and three burned together and covered about 59 acres, and the fourth burned 20 to 30 acres. All were controlled by the BLM or fire departments, he said, and are under investigation.
Larry Meyer is a reporter for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at LarryM@argusobserver.com.
THANK YOU wrote on Aug 3, 2009 2:29 PM: