Authorities Believe Squatters May Have Started Weekend Fire in Hog Creek Area
Authorities believe squatters may have started a weekend fire at a vacant house in the Hog Creek area west of Merlin.
Early Saturday morning, Rural Metro Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a structure fire in the 4400-block of Galice Road.
Rural Metro officials said arriving units were able to contain the fire before it was able to advance very far and destroy the house. They said there was evidence of squatter activity in the dwelling and attempts to locate the property owner were underway.
With the cold weather and a growing unhoused population in Josephine County, fire officials encourage property owners of vacant buildings to secure and monitor the structures to guard against unexpected damage or loss.
Posted on 12/19/23 6:02AM by Sam Marsh
