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Is an arsonist behind recent Teller County fires?
Posted: 06.22.2012 at 9:33 PM
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TELLER COUNTY, COLO. -- Teller County Sheriff Deputies investigating 20 suspicious fires that have ignited in the past five days.
The last six breaking out within a two-hour time span Thursday night.
The fires, quick and small, have all had the same set of circumstances: they're close to the road, easily accessible, and near dry timber.
Thursday night, the Teller County Sheriff's Office questioned one suspect, after he had been seen frequenting an area that had been burned.
"We had several calls on this particular person and brought him in, questioned him, and felt comfortable letting him go," Mike Ensminger, Teller County Sheriff said.
The majority of the fires at the beginning of the week were centered around a 5-mile radius in the Aspen Village area.
Those breaking out during the later part of the week were located on North 67 and South 67.
Bill Wiedner is a rancher with property near County Roads 5 and 511, was out moving his horses when he saw smoke.
"Seven acres burned behind our property in Aspen Village and they're on going, seems like someone's got an agenda that they can't get over," Bill Wiedner, witness to a suspicious fire said.
The large number of fires in this short amount of time is taking a toll on the Teller County Sheriff's Office overtime budget.
There's no official number yet, but the sheriff tells FOX21 News they've had people working around the clock, including volunteer fire fighters.
The sheriff is asking locals to stay alert and call if they see anything suspicious.