LOGAN -
A weekend fire at a Logan Animal Hospital is thought to be the latest incident of arson.
Knowles Animal Hospital caught fire early Sunday morning. Investigators found a back door broken into, and some type of flammable liquid on the floor.
There were seven animals inside at the time, according to owner Linda Knowles. None were injured.
"It's a pretty sickening feeling," said Knowles. "Why would someone try to set fire to animals in cages?"
Investigators say this fire was arson but would not say it was linked to a series of other cases of arson in recent weeks and months.
Last Wednesday, four buildings in downtown Logan were damaged in an unexplained blaze. Witnesses saw three people running from the building just before the fire broke out. No one was injured.
In November 2011, a string of abandoned homes caught fire in rural Logan County. Those, too, were all deemed arson.
In just the past few weeks, the Logan Fire Department has gone to three confirmed arsons, and many more structure fires.
"We've run eight structure fires in probably the last 30 or 35 days," said Beckett. "That is a rarity."
State Police, the state's fire Marshall and local police and fire agencies are investigating the string of arsons. Logan's Fire Chief Scott Beckett said they aren't saying the fires are linked, but would say there were similarities. Aside from being just blocks away, on the same street and happening during the same time of night, witnesses are calling in with similar descriptions.
"We've been dispatched to explosions," said Beckett. "It hasn't been fires."
Investigators have taken door handles, and a container, like a gas can, from the animal hospital fire. They are looking for any clues that could help point them toward a suspect or link the latest fire to others.
Knowles said she and her husband will look for nearby buildings to reopen their animal hospital.
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