DES MOINES, Iowa - Debris clean-up continues in Des Moines today after fire investigators suspect arson led to three debris fires Sunday morning on the city's east side.
WHO-TV reports the fires were quickly put out, but there was concern they could've quickly spread to to dry grass and then possibly someone’s home.
Lieutenant Rick Thomas warns homeowners to beware. “Make sure your cameras are working, batteries charged if they are battery-operated,” Lt. Thomas told WHO-TV. “Even if you don’t think that information is going to be pertinent to what we are looking for, we put that with what a neighbor might have and we might have everything we need to press charges on someone. So that’s very important to keep those cameras going.”
Charges for purposely setting fire to tree debris can range from a simple misdemeanor to felony arson.