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No motives seen in Rifle fires

Heidi Rice

RIFLE – Police say they are positive that the fires which destroyed two local businesses early Labor Day morning were intentional and the investigation is continuing.But why were they set? And by whom? Answers to those questions are not yet known, but investigators are determined to find out.”We will stay with this until our leads are exhausted or until it is solved,” Rifle police chief Daryl Meisner said.Three fires were reported early Monday morning. The first was at the Rifle Fireside Lanes in north Rifle shortly after 3 a.m., the second at a condominium complex at 26th Street and Meadow Circle shortly before 4 a.m., and the third at the Rifle Amoco service station in the 100 block of Railroad Avenue a little after 4:30 a.m. A fourth attempted fire was reported at the Mi Hacienda restaurant just south of the condo complex off Highway 13.The bowling alley and the gas station were deemed complete losses, and the restaurant and condo complex were damaged. Meisner said terrorism is not being considered as there was no rhyme or reason to the arson attacks.”There is no theme, nobody is claiming responsibility and there is no significance in the targets,” he said.There are leads, but no particular suspects as of Tuesday.The Rifle Police Department has stepped up its patrols, and business and home owners are being warned to be “vigilant” in watching over their property.Anyone with information regarding the fires should contact the Rifle Police Department at 625-2271.Vail, Colorado


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