Arson team scaling back investigation after no new leads

An arson task force set up to chase down leads on a series of suspected arsons in Carson City is being scaled back after three weeks of investigation and no new leads, Sheriff Kenny Furlong said.

"Over the past three weeks the Sierra Front Arson Task Force has been concentrating on identifying suspects, preserving fire scenes and evidence and locating witnesses to assist us in the investigation," he said.

Several interviews, two of which included the use of lie-detecting equipment, failed to uncover who was responsible for 11 fires in Carson City, Storey, and Washoe counties between June 16 and June 28.

"We have conducted a number of interviews with witnesses, and have gotten several leads from the Secret Witness program, but as of now, we seem to have exhausted all of our leads," Furlong said. "The task force will be trimmed down."

He said the reduction means only that investigators who have been spending all of their time on the fires will be able to handle other matters as well. The task force was made up of members of the Nevada State Fire Marshal's Office, Nevada Division of Forestry, Carson City Fire Department, Carson City Sheriff's Department, East Fork Fire Protection District, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.

Since June 16, about 1,300 acres of wildland in the area have been scorched under suspicious circumstances.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.