Man questioned in Tooele fire released from jail


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TOOELE — As Tooele police and fire officials continue to investigate who may have started a devastating field fire that destroyed 10 mobile homes and severely damaged at least eight more, the only person named by police as of Friday was released from jail.

Late Tuesday, a field fire fueled by strong winds pushed 80- to 100-foot flames into an adjacent neighborhood, taking out homes in a two-block area.

The Tooele Fire Department classified the fire as arson, but as of Friday it had not released details about how it came to that conclusion.

By Wednesday evening, Tooele police were asking for the public's help in finding Jesse Barger, 24, whom detectives wanted to question about the fire. Police only stated that he had been seen in the area and might have information about the investigation.

Barger was found, questioned and booked into the Tooele County Jail on outstanding misdemeanor warrants by Thursday morning. He was not arrested on anything related to the fire.

The warrants have since been cleared, and Barger was released from custody.

Tooele police spokeswoman Tanya Turnbow said Friday that Barger is not being called a suspect or a person of interest, but he has not been completely cleared of having involvement in the fire. The investigation is ongoing.

Jesse Barger, 24, was released from custody (Photo: Tooele County Jail)
Jesse Barger, 24, was released from custody (Photo: Tooele County Jail)

As of Friday, no suspects had been named by police.

Tooele resident Heeth Kell, who helped fight the fire and protect homes in the area, said Friday that he believes Barger could be the man he saw being chased by neighbors that night.

"I just saw the neighbor across the street chase him and saying, 'Come back here. I know what you did,'" he said.

Kell wasn't exactly sure what neighbors saw or why they started chasing the man, but it was information provided by the neighbor that was chasing him that led to police asking for the public's help to find Barger, he said.

On social media, other residents claimed they saw him near the field where the fire started, going through a backpack.

There have been rumors among neighbors about why someone would intentionally start a fire in that area, Kell said, including the possibility of revenge against a resident. But none of the rumors had been confirmed as of Friday.

According to Utah court records, Barger has several shoplifting and drug-related convictions over the past five years.

Police and fire officials continue to seek tips about the fire at 435-882-8900 or 435-882-5600.

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Pat Reavy

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