Authorities Think West Des Moines Grass Fires Intentionally Set

have interviewed one juvenile and are continuing an investigation into a series of fires that appear to have been intentionally set in the city park south of  over the past several months.

According to Officer Amanda St. George’s report, the most recent fires were reported on July 20 and July 25. On July 25, the fire department was called back to a location where a grass fire was extinguished earlier in the day, but they don’t know if it was intentionally started again or if winds caused an ember to re-ignite it.

St. George reported that as she approached the scene of the first fire, “smoke was clearly visible” and vegetation east of the city bike path was burning. Fire could also be seen through the trees the line the path and into bean fields to the east, she reported.

St. George said she questioned a juvenile who was riding his bicycle in the vicinity of the elementary school. He said his grandmother lives nearby and he reportedly wanted to “check it out.” He told St. George that he didn’t see anyone else in the area and did not know how the fire started.

The fires occurred during a period of in central Iowa. State Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds warned in mid-July that Iowa was a “tinder box” and a small fire could spread dangerously fast.