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RIVERDALE, Weber County — Two juveniles who escaped a youth rehabilitation center are in police custody after allegedly causing a massive barn fire Friday that could continue to smoke for a couple of weeks.
According to the Riverdale Police Department, the youth rehabilitation center reported that the two juveniles ran away from its facility on Thursday at approximately 3:07 p.m.
Riverdale police said officers searched the area for the two juveniles but could not find them. Authorities listed them as missing.
On Friday at about 6 a.m., Riverdale police and fire department crews responded to the area of 6000 S. Weber Drive on a report of a barn on fire.
According to Riverdale police, a driver reported seeing two juveniles running away from the barn toward Interstate 84.
Riverdale police said its officers found the two missing juveniles on I-84 shortly after the report of the barn fire, and they were taken into custody.
The pair were taken to the Weber Valley Youth Center and are being held for investigation of reckless burning, burglary and vehicle theft, according to police.
Riverdale police said the barn had farming equipment and a vehicle, and it was full of hay when it caught on fire, resulting in "substantial" property loss to the owner.
Due to the nature of the fire and the burning hay, firefighters were "unable to fully extinguish the coals as they continue to smolder in the several tons of hay," Riverdale police said in a subsequent press release Monday.
Police said the coals could continue to smolder for "approximately the next two weeks." After having received "numerous calls regarding smoke in the air and possible fires," police said smoke may continue to be visible for a couple of weeks.
"If you drive by the barn involved in this incident on I-84 or on South Weber Drive and see smoke coming from the barn, we are aware, and are monitoring the situation," police said.
According to police, the youth rehabilitation center the two juveniles ran from is not a correctional facility and they were placed at the center at their guardian's consent.
Contributing: Bridger Beal-Cvetko
