CASPER — The Casper Police Department believes there may be an arsonist in the city after a series of fires were touched off over a 12-hour period Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning.
Casper Police Department spokesperson Rebekah Ladd reported that between 8 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday, the Casper Fire Department and other first responders were called to five locations with fires.
“At this time, all five incidents are being reported as suspected arson,” Ladd said.
One of the locations Ladd reported was in the 400 block of North McKinley Street.
Jason Thomas, an employee at Summit Fire & Security at 435 N. McKinley St., and a coworker said they noticed grass smoking in the alley behind their business as they pulled up to start work at 7:50 a.m. Thursday.
The business specializes in walk-in fire extinguisher service and sales.
“We were going to put it out ourselves,” Thomas said. “But it was in front of a gas main, so we called 911.”
The 900 block of South Chestnut showed no visible signs of a fire during a quick tour of the block on Thursday. The same was true of other locations. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Police are looking for someone who chose an alley behind a fire extinguisher business to try and light grass around a gas main on Thursday. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Summit Fire & Security at 435 N. McKinley in Casper is one of the five locations where a suspected arsonist struck. Employee Jason Thomas said when he arrived at work Thursday morning the grass was smoking around the gas meter behind their business. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
‘Dude On A Scooter’
Casper firefighters showed up to spray the grass and a detective arrived to take photos, he said.
“A cop said they have multiple fires in this area, and they are looking for a dude on a scooter,” he said.
Thomas said his workplace is located a few blocks from the city’s mission and often has issues with homeless people.
Ladd said she was not going to release any more information than what was in the CPD’s initial report because it’s an ongoing investigation.
The arson investigation is being conducted with the Casper Fire Department, she said.
“Our fire department partners lend an extensive amount of expertise to these investigations,” she said.
Attempts to reach officials with the Casper Fire Department and Natrona County Fire Protection District were not responded to by publication.
No injuries have been reported as a result of the fires, but one incident did result in significant property damage, Ladd reported. She declined to share that location.
The department is asking anyone with surveillance video of the fire locations to contact the department. In addition to the Summit Fire & Security location and alley, other locations and times of the responses include:
• 900 block of South Chestnut Street at 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
• 1600 block of East Yellowstone Highway at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday.
• 900 block of North Kimball Street at 2:56 a.m. on Thursday.
• Area of East H Street and North Lincoln Street at 3:12 a.m. onThursday.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Casper Police at 307-235-8278 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Central Wyoming at 307-577-8477 or online at crime-stoppers.com.
Surveillance video and other relevant media can be submitted directly to rladd@casperwy.gov.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
