The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Forest Service are seeking the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for a wild land fire last fall in northern Arizona.
In the early morning hours of Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, a forest fire was reported to the Forest Service and local law enforcement in an area south of Forest Service Road 418, north of the San Francisco Peaks. The fire was south of the White Horse Hills in an area commonly known as Potato Flat. The subsequent investigation determined the fire started between 4 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, just south of Forest Service Road 418 and Potato Tank in Game Management Unit 7E.
Evidence discovered at the scene by investigators indicated unknown persons had built a small fire to cook and the fire was either left unattended or got away from them. The fire destroyed one seasonal cabin and burned over 98 acres of both wild land and private land.
Investigators have reason to believe the person(s) responsible for this fire were recreating in the area or looking at the changing leaves. There was an elk hunt in progress at the time and investigators are hopeful that hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts may have information helpful to the investigation.
If you have any information, or witnessed anything in the area of the Potato Flat, please call Lt. Rex Gilliland of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5025 or Jon Nelson of the United States Forest Service at (928) 527-3509.
