Shed fire under suspicious circumstances; $1,000 reward offered

*Photo provided by the Jasper Fire Department*

A fire involving a shed at a Baden Strasse residence is being scrutinized due to its proximity to two other unexplained fires at adjacent homes over the past three years.

According to Jasper Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang, the fire at 4373 Baden Strasse that destroyed a small shed Saturday morning is within eyesight of two other suspicious fires.

The circumstances involving the shed are also suspect as it appeared to burn from below the temporary structure that had just been delivered to the residence Friday.

Hochgesang said the fire originated from underneath the shed. As the fire grew, the bottom of the shed collapsed. Fortunately, a neighbor saw the blaze before the entire shed was engulfed. Firefighters received the call at about 1:27 a.m.

When they arrived, they were able to stop the fire from spreading after ripping the floor up to put it out.

The shed contained plastic bags and totes full of Christmas decorations and household items. According to Hochgesang, the majority of the contents of the shed were destroyed from the smoke and melting that occurred from the fire.

When Hochesang returned this morning to inspect the damages he noticed a few things that raised his suspicions about the cause of the fire. “The yard is seeded and a pile of straw was mounded under the shed and there was some cardboard and paper material mixed also,” he said. “It may have come from the material in the shed but that was stored in the plastic Totes, so I would think that the paper would be mixed with the melted plastic.”

In regards to the other suspicious fires, a tree directly behind the shed caught fire about a year ago and a nearby bush at a Rhine Strasse residence also caught fire about three and a half years ago, according to Hochgesang.

Police and Fire investigators believe the fire was started toward the rear of the shed. Photo provided by the Jasper Fire Department — Police and Fire investigators believe the fire was started toward the rear of the shed. *Photo provided by the Jasper Fire Department*

The police department has been notified and an investigation is in progress. They announced a $1,000 reward being offered through the department and the Community Strike Force Against Crime for information leading to the arrest and conviction the person or persons involved in the fire.

Three trucks and 27 firefighters responded and were on scene about an hour and 20 minutes.

The shed and its contents belonging to the resident, Lou Beckman, were destroyed. The cost of the shed was estimated at about $1,700 and the contents at about $1,000.