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Bridge, home arson fires remain mysteries A county bridge destroyed in a deliberately set fire still has drivers detouring around one section of CR 418 and remains the El Campo Fire Department's greatest mystery of 2007. The Sept. 25 arson remains unsolved despite the best efforts of state and local investigators, but the fire burned several days on the old creosote post bridge leaving little more than ash. The 90 to 100 foot span costs an estimated $200,000 to replace with the more modern style concrete bridge and forced the county to delay other projects in favor of the emergency replacement. Danevang Volunteer Fire Department firfi.ghters were dispatched to the blaze first. "It was fully involved. There were flames everywhere, rolling over the top of the bridge," Danevang Chief Ben Rivera said. The 12-man Danevang department teamed with El Campo volunteers to attack the blaze, but creosote post bridge burned hot with a thick brownish smoke. Despite thousands of gallons of water, hot spots remained. The fire would reignite three times before completely destroying the bridge just west of the intersection with CR 411. Although not a highly traveled road, CR 418 is used as a link between FM 1162 and Hwy. 71. The last major bridge fire in Wharton County was Feb. 14, 1998 when vandals torched a creosote timber bridge on CR 366 over Mustang Creek. No one was caught. December Home Arson Still Unsolved The Dec. 20 blaze at 818 Alice, a vacant home, is also unsolved. There was no electric, gas or water service to the house which was a rolling ball of flame when the first calls for help were received. No one was spotted near the home. It was the second odd fire at the site in less than two years. El Campo volunteer firfi.ghters fought a blaze at the same house on May 25, 2006. That time, a fire started in the rear portion of the home. This time, the blaze appears to have started in front. Anyone who may have seen anything unusual on Alice Street is urged to call either the police department at 543-5311 or Crime Stoppers at 543-TIPS. The city of El Campo has a standing $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and grand jury indictment of an arsonist. |
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