Fire warden determines arson

A call was received by Moorcroft police and fire department last Friday about a fire in a derelict house 220 Cheyenne Avenue at 3:50 p.m. A neighbor witnessed smoke coming from a basement window and called 911.

Officer Jake Miller responded, along with several volunteer firefighters from the nearby Moorcroft department to a blaze in the basement area of the structure.

While the flames were quickly doused, the structural supports were badly damaged, causing Fire Warden Doug Leis to recommend the building be condemned.

Moorcroft Police Chief Bill Bryant later attested that the burn had been determined to be an act of arson; a perpetrator or perpetrators broke into the basement and deliberately set the fire. The individuals responsible had attempted this destruction before, but had, on Friday, managed to accomplish their plan with very limited success, the chief said.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Bryant was unable to discuss potential suspects. However, he did say they are currently conducting interviews and will "put everything together" and then the police will take their case to the Crook County Attorney "to see if they're going to prosecute and how they want to handle it from there".