More arson fires plague northern part of Allen County

In what has become a daily routine, firefighters were called to an area north of Iola Wednesday morning to extinguish another grass fire.
The fire — along Utah Road between 1800 and 2000 streets — appeared to be intentionally set, like most of the earlier fires have been, Allen County Deputy Tim Beckham said.
About 25 fires have been reported since early August in northern Allen and southern Anderson counties.
A few acres of pasture burned in Wednesday’s blaze. Had the fire been a few days earlier, it would have been considerably more costly. Large hay bales were removed from the grounds recently.
A weekend rain shower, coupled with cooler temperatures, helped with newly grown greenery in the pasture, which slowed the fire’s pace before firefighters arrived.
Members of the Allen County Rural Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the fire. A nearby oil battery and pump were undamaged.
Allen County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information to aid in the arrest and conviction of whoever has been responsible for the fires.
Tips may be made by calling 1-800-222-8477, by sending a text message to 274637 or through Crime Stoppers’ Facebook account. Information given through text and Facebook messages are anonymous and secure, same as those made by a telephone call. In addition, anyone seeing what they think are suspicious people or activities are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers, the sheriff’s office, 365-1400, or 911.
Allen County commissioners instituted a countywide burning ban Tuesday.
The ban won’t prevent fires maliciously set, commissioners noted, but it will give emphasis to efforts to track down those responsible for the fires, one of which consumed 250 bales of hay valued at about $25,000.