Task force created to help catch person responsible for setting multiple fires in Davis County


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FARMINGTON — What started as garbage can fires is now spreading to trees and fields near homes.

“I think it's awful,” said Farmington resident Kati Newton. “I can't believe that somebody would do something like that."

People in the neighborhood along 100 North in Farmington remember the fire from July 6th well.

"He lit it right here behind our house and I woke up in the middle of the night around 2:30 a.m. or so and smelled it,” said Farmington resident Kenna Sine. “It was coming in through the windows."

It was one of too many close calls for firefighters.

"The fact that we've been able to contain these fires at a relatively early stage, does not undermine the severity and the potential threat,” said Farmington Fire Chief Guido Smith.

Smith says that's part of the reason why a task force is now focused on finding the person responsible for about a dozen fires in Davis County dating back to last March.

"We have every reason to believe that they are linked,” Smith said. “There's enough commonalities between them that would indicate that the fires are set within the same time frames, and there is a pattern that we're looking into.”

Investigators won't release details, but say there are multiple factors that tie all the fires to one person. They're hoping a combined force of city, county and federal agencies will help find the suspect before someone gets hurt.

"It's not uncommon for arsonists to progressively get worse in their activities and our concerns are that this could be one of those cases," Smith said.

Smith points out that it's still very hot and dry. Add a bit of wind and it wouldn't take much for a fire to get out of control.

Contributing: Xoel Cardenas

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