By ANDY GOODELL
OSKALOOSA — It began while most people were still enjoying the fireworks.
Toward the end of Oskaloosa’s Fourth of July community fireworks display Saturday night, another kind of flame was ignited. But, this wasn’t one meant to entertain.
Firefighters monitoring the fireworks display were called to 1501 Green St. to find what Oskaloosa Fire Chief Mark Neff called a “suspicious” fire.
“It was a small arson fire,” said Neff in a Herald interview Monday morning. “There was no real damage done. It was in the corner of a steel-sided garage. They threw down a flammable liquid and lit it.”
Although there were no injuries associated with the fire and it was quickly extinguished, the incident remains under investigation.
Neff said anyone with information regarding the fire should contact the Oskaloosa Fire Department at 673-3541.
What appears to not need investigation is Saturday’s fireworks display at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds. The display is organized by the Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development Group Fireworks Committee.
Jon Sullivan, main street/commerce director at OACDG, said even after several firefighters monitoring the fireworks responded to the Green Street incident, the display went off without a hitch.
Sullivan also said the fireworks remained continually under the watch of firefighters throughout the half-hour-long display. He said it’s typical to have two fire trucks and an ambulance on scene for the fireworks display as a precaution.
“Everything was smooth and fine,” said Sullivan.
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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com
