At least 12 separate fires were set in rural areas west of Cleburne Monday afternoon, but deputies, firefighters and a crew with United Cooperative Services extinguished the flames before any major damage was reported, authorities said Tuesday.
Deputies with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office continued their search Tuesday for two young men who witnesses say started the blazes in the 3700 to 4500 block of Park Road 21, west of Cleburne.The two described as in their late teens or early 20s were driving a white Ford pick up.Johnson County dispatchers began receiving calls about the fires at about 5 p.m. Monday.A resident and a crew with United Cooperative Services who were working in the area managed to extinguish several fires before Johnson County firefighters arrived on the scene."With the drought conditions of the fuels in this area, the actions of these individuals diverted a possible disaster," said Sgt. Tom Hargrave of the Johnson County Sheriff's Department in an email.Deputies who responded to the scene also managed to knock down several fires, Hargrave said.Anyone with information on the arson cases should contact Investigator Steve Shaw at 817-556-6058.Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763Twitter: @mingoramirezjrHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
