bigbluemsp
Member
TODAY:
Kimball Fire responds to a fully involved structure fire on a 2 story nonoccupied dwelling on Goodells Rd. When they pulled up the Asst Chief advised that there were witnesses to the possible arson. Sheriff Responds and takes info but nothing was put out over the air yet.
YESTERDAY:
Police: Fires may be arson
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Police: Fires may be arson
By SHANNON MURPHY
Times Herald
Four barns were destroyed and the Wales Township Hall damaged in suspected arsons early Monday in Wales and Kenockee townships, police said.
The incidents started about 6:15 a.m. when a barn was set on fire at 9505 Sparling Road in Wales Township, St. Clair County Sheriff Lt. Tim Donnellon said.
At 7:04 a.m., a barn at 8817 Bryce Road in Kenockee Township was set on fire. Two nearby barns on the property also caught fire and were destroyed.
About 10 minutes later, the Wales Township Hall at 1372 Wales Center Road was set on fire, Donnellon said.
The township hall sustained smoke and water damage. A sheriff deputy was patrolling the area when the fire broke out and was able to control the blaze with a fire extinguisher until firefighters arrived, Donnellon said.
No one was injured in the fires.
The owners of the barns do not live on the property, Donnellon said.
Police believe the same people set the fires because of the proximity of each blaze.
"There is no reason to believe they were targeted, other than their locations," Donnellon said.
A late-model, full-size sedan was seen leaving the area of the Sparling Road fire shortly after it started, Donnellon said.
A similar vehicle was seen a short time later on the shoulder of Interstate 69. Police believe the people in the vehicle were watching the Sparling Road fire.
A Michigan State Police fire inspector is investigating the fires.
Wales Township Trustee David Shannon Sr. said he went to the township hall when he heard the fire reported on his home scanner shortly after 7 a.m.
He said important papers and computer equipment were taken out of the building Monday morning to the township supervisor's home for safekeeping.
It is unclear if the township hall will be open this week and what officials will do to fix the damage.
It's unknown how much it will cost to have the township hall repaired.
"We can't really do anything until the fire marshal is done investigating," Shannon said.
Firefighters from Emmett, Kenockee, Mussey, Clyde, Kimball and Brockway townships, as well as Capac, Memphis, Richmond and Yale responded to the fires.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060905/NEWS01/609050301/1002
