Two boys implicated in Brownsdale fire
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 2, 2000
BROWNSDALE – A thorough investigation by a State Fire Marshall’s Office investigator has resulted in the apprehension of two children responsible for a July 27 fire at Brownsdale.
Wednesday, August 02, 2000
BROWNSDALE – A thorough investigation by a State Fire Marshall’s Office investigator has resulted in the apprehension of two children responsible for a July 27 fire at Brownsdale.
According to Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, Kenneth Wytaske reported a recreational camper was destroyed by fire at 3:40 p.m. July 27 while it was parked behind a shed. The fire caused an estimated $30,000 damages.
State Fire Marshall’s Office investigator Steve Wolf found matches at the scene and determined they were used to start two fires in the camper.
His investigation led him to two boys, one age 8 and another 10, who are not related, but who are friends.
The matches recovered at the scene were identical to matches in the boys’ possession.
While the boys gave conflicting stories, one of them admitted the other set one fire on a couch in the camper that was extinguished. Then, a second fire was lit and it could not be extinguished. The boys ran from the camper, which was consumed by flames.
According to Sheriff Simonson, the results of the Fire Marshall’s investigator’s efforts and the identities of the boys have been turned over to the Mower County Department of Human Services’ division of child protection services for further investigation.
DARE picnic tonight
The annual Drug Abuse Resistance Education summer picnic will be held tonight.
According to Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, the picnic begins 5:30 p.m. at the Austin Municipal Swimming Pool.
DARE graduates and their families are invited.
There will be free food and soft drinks, plus games and other activities.
A Mayo One air ambulance is expected to land in the Swimming Pool parking lot for a demonstration on life-saving.
The picnic was postponed earlier this summer due to inclement weather.