Sheldon looks for arsonist, reward offered

Michelle Workman/Daily Mail Little remains of a vacant funeral home in Sheldon after a fire, one of four structure fires in the past month is likely the work of a suspected arsonist.

Nevada Daily Mail

The Vernon County Sheriff's Office, fire marshall and investigator and the city of Sheldon request help in trying to find those responsible for four structure fires in less than a month, which have been deemed acts of arson.

Sheldon fire chief Bill Jeffries said the fires so far have included vacant structures such as a funeral home, trailer house and one- and two-story homes within the Sheldon city limits. But while the buildings themselves have been empty, they have been close enough to other homes to melt the siding on them.

The remains of a house in Sheldon that was recently burned.

After the second fire, Jeffries said he reached out to a fire marshall, who advised they contact him again if any other fires occurred. The next instance involved two fires in the same evening and insured the fire marshall's involvement as well as the sheriff's office's.

"We've got to get it stopped," Jeffries said.

Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said they have assigned a detective to the investigation and are following leads in order to find those responsible for the fires.

"At this point it is obviously arson," Mosher said, but added fire investigations are difficult since most evidence is destroyed, making witnesses the best lead.

The fire marshall and sheriff's office are seeking the help from the public as well in their investigation, offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest of the arson.

Mosher said some have asked why they need to be so concerned when the arsonists seem to be burning only buildings that were empty and needed removed, but the sheriff said it is still dangerous and costly to city residents as well as the firefighters who respond.

"It's dangerous to the citizens down there," Mosher said. "Our main goal is finding out who did it if we can and making sure it stops so nobody gets hurt."

If anyone has information concerning the fires, they are to contact the sheriff's office or the fire marshall.