ALABAMA LOOKOUTS
BARTON KNOB (mt. mills)
Colbert County
Alabama Forestry Commission
Alabama Forestry Commission
October 24, 1992: "A Thursday night fire that destroyed the Alabama Forestry Commission's Barton fire tower was intentionally set, state Fire Marshall Richard Montgomery confirmed Friday.
Seven other grass fires ignited in the same vicinity at about the same time and ranged from 3 feet in diameter to an acre in size.
Montgomery said although no physical evidence was left behind that would link the fire to arson, 'there was no doubt in my mind.'
'I'm 99 percent sure that it was arson,' Montgomery said. 'We found no accidental cause for it. We took burned debris samples and sent them to the Huntsville forensic science lab.'
Montgomery said the lab results will determine the cause of the fire and whether or not a liquid or other substance was used in arson.
He said insurance adjustors were on the scene Friday to assess damages but a final estimate was not released. However, he said in his estimation damages were probably between $10,000 and $12,000.
According to Montgomery, the fire tower – a small, concrete building at the top of Mount Mills Road or Barton Mountain – will have to be replaced, along with two radios used by state forestry officials.
Alabama Forestry Commission district forester Gerald Steeley said one grass fire was reported at about 7:30 p.m., and when Barton firefighters contacted a forestry official, he in turn tried to contact their tower to no avail.
'Our ranger discovered that the radio was out the tower and he went to check it out,' Steeley said. 'When he got there he found the building gone.'
No one was injured in the fire.
Steeley said his department has had problems with vandalism at the tower in the past, but this is the first time a fire occurred there.
Colbert County Sheriff Buddy Ald------ said two suspects were being questioned Friday in relation to the fire. He said his department is investigating the fire, which was determined to have started in the roof area and spread downward.
Montgomery said people that set fires on government property 'obviously don't realize that they're the very ones who will have to pay for it.'
'Any time state property is damaged, we're going to have to pay for it some way, in taxes or some other way,' he said. 'They're the ones that will have to pay for it.'" (Times Daily)
Seven other grass fires ignited in the same vicinity at about the same time and ranged from 3 feet in diameter to an acre in size.
Montgomery said although no physical evidence was left behind that would link the fire to arson, 'there was no doubt in my mind.'
'I'm 99 percent sure that it was arson,' Montgomery said. 'We found no accidental cause for it. We took burned debris samples and sent them to the Huntsville forensic science lab.'
Montgomery said the lab results will determine the cause of the fire and whether or not a liquid or other substance was used in arson.
He said insurance adjustors were on the scene Friday to assess damages but a final estimate was not released. However, he said in his estimation damages were probably between $10,000 and $12,000.
According to Montgomery, the fire tower – a small, concrete building at the top of Mount Mills Road or Barton Mountain – will have to be replaced, along with two radios used by state forestry officials.
Alabama Forestry Commission district forester Gerald Steeley said one grass fire was reported at about 7:30 p.m., and when Barton firefighters contacted a forestry official, he in turn tried to contact their tower to no avail.
'Our ranger discovered that the radio was out the tower and he went to check it out,' Steeley said. 'When he got there he found the building gone.'
No one was injured in the fire.
Steeley said his department has had problems with vandalism at the tower in the past, but this is the first time a fire occurred there.
Colbert County Sheriff Buddy Ald------ said two suspects were being questioned Friday in relation to the fire. He said his department is investigating the fire, which was determined to have started in the roof area and spread downward.
Montgomery said people that set fires on government property 'obviously don't realize that they're the very ones who will have to pay for it.'
'Any time state property is damaged, we're going to have to pay for it some way, in taxes or some other way,' he said. 'They're the ones that will have to pay for it.'" (Times Daily)