Police Looking for "Person of Interest" in Bell Canyon Fire

Police Looking for "Person of Interest" in Bell Canyon Fire


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**Photo: John Savage**Gene Kennedy Reporting

The Sandy police department is looking for a person of interest; a man who may be connected to yesterday's fire in Bell Canyon.

The person of interest is not a suspect, just someone police want to talk to. Investigators want answers. Even though the fire is out and scorched only 11 acres, this is the third fire in Bell Canyon in the last few months.

The fire came less than a mile from some homes. "My son just noticed the smoke coming over on the other side of the mountain there, and he says, ‘Dad, you better come and look at this.' So I did," said one witness.

Craig Watson lives in the area. He says the fire was 500-600 yards away from homes in the area.

Watson said, "Yeah, we were pretty concerned. All the neighbors were out here last night. Yeah, they just said, 'Just be on the lookout and be ready to leave if we need to go.'"

Watson never had to leave his home. The fire didn't reach his tranquil neighborhood. But seeing the flames brought back memories of the 4th of July; the last Bell Canyon fire. Investigators thought several people started the fire while playing with bottle rockets or a flare, but the cause still remains undetermined, and no one's been caught.

That holiday fire was actually much larger than yesterday's, but like the fourth of July, investigators think human caused this had one too.

Sandy Police Sgt. Victor Quezada said. "Two people that live in the area spotted the same individual."

That individual is now a person of interest.

He is a white male in his 20s or 30s. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. He has dark, medium length hair. His beard is his distinguishing feature.

"He has a 3 inch beard, and at the end of his chin he got a rubber band tying the beard into place, if you will. It could be nothing, but we would like to talk to this gentleman just to see if he has any involvement or clues we can go off," said Quezada.

Police are hoping that that person of interest will come forward, or if you know who they are please call Sandy police.

Firefighters are mopping up hot spots. The fire is fully contained, and the firefighters should be done sometime this evening.

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