Coeur d'Alene authorities seek help in arson investigation

Coeur d'Alene police and firefighters are seeking the public's help as they investigate two fires they believe were intentionally set during the early hours of Aug. 15.

At approximately 2:20 a.m. Aug. 15, authorities said someone set a fire in the wooded area north of 6525 N. Mineral Drive, near the corner of Mineral and Canfield. The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department responded to the blaze after it was reported around 3:40 a.m. and extinguished it.

Less than a mile away and at nearly the same time, a structure fire was reported to 911 on North Wheatfield, just south of Prairie Avenue. The structure was unoccupied, according to the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department.

The two simultaneous fires stretched the fire department's resources and mutual aid units responded to the structure fire.

After an investigation by the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, the Idaho Department of Lands and an ignitable liquid detection K-9 from Spokane Fire District 4, the wooded area fire on Mineral Drive has been determined to be arson.

Surveillance cameras in the area captured footage of an individual riding a bicycle along Wilbur and Mineral Drive, near the Idaho State Police building, according to authorities.

"Unfortunately, due to low light at that early hour, the footage recovered so far does not show enough detail to identify the individual beyond their mode of transportation," a news release said.

The Coeur d'Alene Police and Fire Departments are now working with the Idaho State Fire Marshal's Office and the NW Insurance Council's Arson Tipline.

Anyone with camera footage or who recalls seeing someone in the area that morning is asked to call the Arson Reward Line at 1-877-75-ARSON (27766). 

Authorities ask that anyone who was living in or commuting through the area bounded by Hanley Avenue, Prairie Avenue, Ramsey Road, and U.S. 95 between 1 and 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, to contact the Arson Reward Line with any information about the fire.