Reward offered for information relating to Cow Valley Fire and others
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, September 20th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
VALE — (Release from the Bureau of Land Management) Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and Bureau of Land Management Vale District are offering an $8,000 reward for information leading to the identification of individual(s) responsible for starting the Cow Valley wildfire and others in the Malheur Reservoir area.
“Several of Oregon’s largest fires were deliberately started by arsonists,” said Oregon Cattlemen’s Association President Matt McElligott. “We at Oregon Cattlemen’s Association are appalled and outraged that any person or persons would commit such a heinous crime.”
A joint investigation by the Bureau of Land Management Vale District, Oregon State Fire Marshal, Malheur County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police determined the Cow Valley, Bonita and other, small, wildfires that began between 1 and 5 a.m. July 11 were human caused and suspicious in nature. Anyone with information about any of these incidents should call We Tip Anonymous at 1-800-47-ARSON, online at wetip.com or at the QR code shown.
“The Cow Valley Fire destroyed houses, outbuildings, livestock, critical irrigation infrastructure, essential rangelands and endangered the lives and livelihoods of many farmers and ranchers,” McElligott said. “This year’s fires will go into the record book as the greatest amount of acres burned, the largest economic loss to those Oregonians impacted by these fires, and the largest economic cost to the state of Oregon.”
