GIRARD, Kan. — Kansas authorities say two fires Tuesday that destroyed an abandoned house and a nonprofit group’s building were suspicious in origin.
The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that a 3:29 a.m. fire that destroyed an abandoned house at 842 N. 250th St. is a case of arson. The rural Arcadia residence burned to the ground despite the efforts of Arma Rural Fire District No. 2.
A second fire reported at 3:35 a.m. at 108 W. Race St. in Arcadia also is under investigation by state fire marshals and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department. That fire destroyed a building owned by Coffee House for God. The loss of the building and its contents is estimated at $20,000, according to authorities.
Arcadia police and firefighters are assisting state fire marshals and the Sheriff’s Department in the investigation of the second fire. Its cause has yet to be determined, but it is considered suspicious, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Anyone with information about either fire is being asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at (620) 724-8274 or (800) KS-CRIME. A reward of up to $5,000 is offered by the Kansas Committee on Arson Prevention for information leading to arrests and prosecutions of those responsible for arson fires.
