Arson suspected in Osburn fire spree

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

OSBURN — Firefighters responded to and extinguished five small fires in Osburn Wednesday afternoon, all of which are suspected of being started by an arsonist.

The Osburn Police Department told the News-Press that emergency crews were toned out to the incident around 6:30 p.m. on May 29 after a 911 caller reported seeing smoke.

Personnel from Shoshone County Fire District No. 1 responded to the area just east of Terror Gulch and Silver Valley Road and discovered five separate starts.

The fires were quickly taken care of before spreading and were contained to less than a quarter of an acre in total area affected.

SCFD No. 1 Chief Aaron Cagle noted that each fire originated from either a pile of yard waste or garbage that had been dumped in that area. It is unclear at this time what the suspects motivations were or if an accelerate was used in the ignition process.

Fire crews remained on scene for approximately one hour to ensure that the fires were dead out.

Calge noted they were lucky that the weather was on their side.

“With the right wind conditions, it could have turned out to be a very bad day in Osburn.”

Osburn Police Chief Darell Braaten states that witnesses did see an individual start the fires, but a detailed physical description could not be gathered.

Braaten does however have a description of the vehicle associated with the suspect — a bronze colored Chevrolet pickup truck.

OPD asks that if you have any information on this incident, contact the department at 208-753-9001 or your local law enforcement agency.