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 about 20 fires in Geneva and Carlyle townships, north of Iola.
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.
“We’ve had about 20 fires, mostly pastures but also baled hay, since early August,” said Sheriff Tom Williams. “We need to get this resolved before someone gets hurt.”
“Farmers are unhappy and angry and if someone were caught setting a fire, it’s hard to say what might happen,” he said.
Late Wednesday evening a bridge on the Prairie Spirit Trail at the north edge of Iola was burned. Thursday afternoon parts of a hedgerow and pasture just north of Texas Road and 1800 Street, about a mile east of Carlyle, burned.
Williams is asking the public to help officers, noting that deputies were limited in their observations.
Anyone seeing what they think are suspicious people or activities are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers or the sheriff’s office, 365-1400, or 911.
Reward offered in area arson cases
