Investigators looking into recent string of house fires
Ponca City Now - July 25, 2016 9:33 am
A number of recent suspicious fires have the Ponca City Police and Fire Departments wondering if they aren’t somehow related. They need the assistance of the community in preventing future fires.
The key is paying attention to what is going on around you and to report anything you feel suspicious, especially if it’s after dark.
According to Fire Marshal Dereck Cassady, there have been four very similar fires in unoccupied structures in the last two months. An early morning a fire was called in at 1:17 a.m. on July 22 at an abandoned home at 315 South Ninth Street.
“We found the door kicked in” Cassady said.
On June 29 a house fire was reported just before 12:30 a.m. at 705 North Pine. This house was vacant and was fully engulfed on the arrival of fire fighters. On June 15 a structure fire was reported just before midnight at a small residence located at 906 ½ South Sixth Street. A fire at the former Highland Nursing Home, now a storage building, at 1301 West Highland was reported by a passing motorist at 9:33 p.m. on May 6.
Another fire on June 22 between two storage buildings in the back yard of 1007 South Fifth Street was called in just before 11 a.m.
Anyone wishing to send an anonymous tip online regarding the information on recent suspicious fires, or any other crime, can access the link at www.poncacityok.gov. Click on the Crime stoppers link on the home page, fill out the tip sheet, and send the information or you can text PCPD plus your message to CRIMES (274637) from your cell phone. If you want to phone in a tip, the number is (580) 762-5100. You will remain anonymous, and may receive a reward of up to $1,000.
