Cause still sought in C Hill fire

A fire at the rifle range last weekend was likely caused by a spark from ammunition, while the cause of the C Hill fire earlier this month is still unknown, according to Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi.

"For C Hill there is no direct cause. The two individuals that the sheriff's office were talking to that were persons of interest continue to be persons of interest. As far as the C Hill fire goes unless we get some new information from someone there's not much more we're going to be able to do with that," said Giomi.

Fire crews were called out on July 7 just after midnight for a fire on the hill that bears a large American flag made of aluminum. When fire crews arrived, they found flames snaking down the hillside around the flag and three smaller fires, also believed to have been intentionally set, circling the area.

As fire crews beat back the flames, Carson City deputies tracked down two men who left a vehicle parked at the foot of the hill and were seen climbing it an hour before the fire was reported.

Giomi said the investigation has since stalled.

On Sunday, flames ate up 123 acres near the Carson City Landfill and Rifle Range, before crews gained control.

"Our assumption is that since it started directly above the pistol range, it had something to do with a ricochet off a rock, someone using tracer ammunition, which they shouldn't be using, or something similar to that," said Giomi. "In the location that it started it's unlikely someone would have done that intentionally. Someone would have to have been above where people were shooting for it to have started intentionally. The assumption is that it was human caused and that it was caused somehow by ammunition in some fashion or another. "

Anyone with information on either fire can call Secret Witness and leave an anonymous tip. If the information leads to the arrest of prosecution of a suspect, the caller is eligible for a reward.

Carson City Secret Witness will pay up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals committing crimes. Call 775-322-4900.