Idaho agencies offer $5,000 reward for info on arson fire

UPDATE 2/5/18: Idaho fire and law enforcement agencies are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person who started a fire in a vacant Burley building on Jan. 29.The fire was at a vacant building located at 1220 Overland Avenue.

Investigators report evidence was uncovered that the building was intentionally set ablaze.

If you know anything, contact the arson hotline at 1(877) 75-ARSON.

The Arson Reward Fund is supported by the Northwest Insurance Council in cooperation with the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office and Idaho Department of Insurance.

The Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office, in cooperation with the Burley Fire Department, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a reward.

UPDATE: 2/1/18 (AP): The state fire marshal has ruled a blaze that destroyed a vacant downtown building in southern Idaho as arson.

The Times-News reports authorities are investigating the Monday morning fire in Burley and the pipe bomb that was found across the street as one case.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Verl Jarvie says the fire was deliberately set, and someone went through “some effort to make sure the building burned.”

Jarvie says an accelerant was found throughout the building, and rags and papers were used to light the fire.

Firefighters found the bomb in the door handle of a new, unopened restaurant while extinguishing the fire across the street.

A bomb squad from Twin Falls later detonated the explosive.

The Cassia County Sheriff’s Office says no arrests have been made.

Investigation into the incident is continuing.

ORIGINAL: Burley firefighters are working to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a downtown building early Monday morning.Firefighters were called to 1200 block of Overland Avenue around 2 a.m. Flames were shooting out of the back corner of the building when firefighters arrived.About 40 firemen from four different fire departments were battling the fire when someone spotted a suspected pipe bomb across the street.The Twin Falls bomb squad was called in and detonated the device in the downtown area at around 8 a.m.