Hit and run driver causes string of roadside fires

Rigby Police say a juvenile, female driver was responsible for a hit and run accident and chase that ignited several small fires Tuesday. According to Chief Sam Tower, police were notified before noon that an accident happened on Highway 48. Callers said the vehicle responsible for the crash was driving south on 3800 East, missing a wheel. The vehicle was creating sparks that started fires along the side of the road. Jefferson County Deputies and Rigby Police located and stopped the vehicle. Jefferson Central Fire and Rigby City Police put out the fires on 3800 East and 100 North. In all, 21 fires were located in the area. All were put out by emergency personnel and citizens who helped with buckets, hoses, farm machinery and hand tools. There was no permanent property damage reported. Reporter Katie Keleher was on the scene Thursday and reports that firefighters from Jefferson Central, Ucon, and Idaho Falls helped put out the fires. But, it was the citizens and homeowners who acted quickly to prevent further damage. Josh Cysewski, along with his daughters Leah and Autumn, stopped to help with the fires.
“We first ran across the road over here,” Cysewski said. “We saw it starting to spread. We had some water in our bags so we tried to douse it.” We’ll have more on that story coming up at 5 on Local News 8 and 5:30 on KIDK Eyewitness News 3.