Richfield Fire Department Suspects Possible Arson at Roosevelt Park

Richfield firefighters suspect arson in a garbage fire that started Thursday morning, city officials told Patch. Police and firefighter crews were on scene to put out a small fire at Roosevelt Park.

Arson is the willful, malicious, intentional and/or reckless burning of your property or someone else’s. Wildfire arson takes place on underdeveloped wildland or uncultivated land comprised of forest, brush or grassland., according to the U.S. Fire administration. Committing first degree arson in Minnesota can result in being sentenced to imprisonment for up to five years or to payment of a fine of $10,000, or both.

Arson facts

• During the five-year period 2010-2014, 23 percent
of wildfires reported were arson (U.S. Department of
the Interior).

• Individual arson fires can cause damages to
resources and communities totaling over a hundred
million dollars (U.S. Forest Service).

• More than half a million wildfires are set by arsonists
each year in the U.S., resulting in over $3 billion in
damages (National Institute of Standards and Technology
and U.S. Department of Agriculture).