A task force of county fire officials is investigating four suspicious fires that occurred this year.  As much as $5,000 could go to anyone who provides information that helps arrest and convict the people responsible.  Three of the blazes were on property owned by Vineyard Community Church at 2341 E. Worthsville Road and likely were caused by the same people, White River Township Fire Marshal Eric Brown said.

        A vacant house also was burned down in Cricket Ridge subdivision on Paddock Road in White River Township, but investigators do not know if the blaze is connected to the fires on the Vineyard property. The insurance company for the church property and the owner of the vacant home are offering up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of people responsible for the fires.

        Investigators suspect a car fire on the church property in December may be connected to the other fires, but the car owner is not offering reward money, Brown said.  County fire departments, including Whiteland, White River Township and Greenwood, formed a 12-person task force last week in response to the multiple fires.

        Fire departments commonly assist each other in arson investigations, Brown said.  Investigators have interviewed people and have a few vehicle descriptions, but nothing solid enough to lead them to a suspect, Brown said.  They are hoping reward money will help get more information about the fires.

        Whiteland police originally investigated the Vineyard church fires and believed a group of teenage vandals were involved.  Cars with smashed windows were parked near a barn fire on the property in January, a month after a car fire on the farmland.  But investigators found no acts of vandalism during a barn fire and house fire on the church land in February, Whiteland Fire Department assistant chief Dave Gabbard said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)