Nine small fires near Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff are suspected to be the result of arson.
The fires were called into the Flagstaff Fire Department around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday night.
Paul Summerfelt, with the Flagstaff Wildland Fire Management team, said by the time crews arrived at the scene, employees with the observatory were already working to put out the flames. Summerfelt said there was no serious damage.
“It is a cause of concern for us, as it is anytime we have a human caused fire, but particularly when we have an event like this where these were maliciously set fires,” he said.
Summerfelt said the fires are still under investigation by Flagstaff police. He said the recent rain and forest thinning helped prevent any further damage.
