Fourth suspicious fire found at Fox Run Park

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fourth possible arson fire found Monday in a park not far from the June wildfire in Black Forest.

Lt. Jeff Kramer said a passerby noticed the small fire on the north side of Fox Run Park near Baptist Road around 5 p.m. He said the location is similar to and close to where three fires were found in mid-July.

“The person who had called us, her husband was actually able to extinguish the fire,” said Kramer. “But when we got there, we noticed similar things to what we’ve seen before — where there’s just been some burning along the ground and pine needles, so to speak.”

Kramer said authorities have found no suspects yet, nor found a connection between the suspicious fires and the wildfire that destroyed nearly 500 homes.

Patrols have been increased around the park since the first suspicious fire, Kramer said.

“Obviously, there’s other calls for service that go on, that won’t allow a deputy at any point to stay in one location. But we’re definitely being active in our patrolling of that area. We know that a small fire could easily become something bigger.”

In the first suspicious fire, a witness reported seeing someone around the burn area, but no one was seen in the other fires despite the park’s popularity and common use.

If you have any information about the fires, call the Sheriff’s Office at 719-390-5555.