Fire Investigators Continue Task of Finding Source

Fire Investigators have been scouring the areas hit by last week's fires, including Midwest City, where they've determined the fires were intentionally set.

Tuesday, April 14th 2009, 8:00 pm

By: News 9


By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

MIDWEST CITY -- Fire Investigators have been scouring the areas hit by last week's fires, including Midwest City, where they've determined the fires were intentionally set.

"People were there," said Midwest City Fire Marshal Jerry Lojka. "They were engaging in an act that would have ignited the fire and they did it intentionally, but we don't know what their intent was."

If they can determine the intent, then they can figure out what charges, if any, should be filed.

"At this point in time, we have no persons of interest and that's what we're trying to do, develop leads," Lojka said.

In Oklahoma, there are five categories of arson, all with the same basic meaning.

"Arson...is the willful or malicious burning of a person or property for profit or gain," said Oklahoma City Arson Battalion Chief, Homer Jones.

It's often difficult to prove a fire was maliciously started.

For example, a homeowner can start a fire during a cookout and set a neighbor's house on fire. The homeowner started the fire intentionally, but there was no malice.

Even if it is determined there was malice, investigators said arson can still be difficult to prove.

"As the fire progresses, evidence is being destroyed," Jones said.

Investigators said a man did find a Molotov cocktail near Lake Stanley Draper during the fires, but they have yet to link it to an individual.

Also, because the fires were so large and so widespread, investigators said it will take some time before they can pinpoint any single source for the fires.

"Multiple fires and multiple points of origin do not necessarily mean it was arson," Jones said.

Anyone with information regarding the Lake Stanley Draper fire or any other fires is asked to call the arson hotline at 23-ARSON, or 232-7766.

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