Fires Determined Accidental

(NORTH PLATTE, Neb.) — Multiple grass fires in close proximity appeared to be set in the same way which lead to further investigation.

On July 16th and 17th, two ditch fires were reported on the south west side of North Platte. The fires were very small and quickly extinguished. On July 22nd, two more fires were reported, one near the Wild West Arena and another south of North Platte off Highway 83.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office joined with North Platte Police Department investigators with assistance from the City Fire Marshall’s Office and a State Fire Marshall investigator. We quickly identified a suspect vehicle in the area of each fire date and location. The owner of the vehicle was interviewed along with a local mechanic that had worked on the vehicle that same day. Investigators examined the vehicle and corroborated information obtained in the interview.

At the conclusion of the investigation, All involved agencies are confident that all four fires were caused by a mechanical issue on the vehicle and was not an intentional act.