Jacksonville man taken into custody Thursday; fire started when fuel was being stolen via a siphon, investigators said
Ashland.news staff report
A Jacksonville resident was arrested Thursday in connection with a fueling station fire in January in Ashland, Ashland police announced Friday. Officers arrested Talon Casey McComb, 32, at his home on Highway 238.
The fire on Shamrock Lane, just north of Ashland Street and just west of the railroad tracks, was reported at about 2:30 a.m. Jan.14. According to the Ashland Police Department, the fire was found to have been caused by a person stealing hundreds of gallons of fuel from underground tanks and from a piece of heavy equipment parked nearby.
Surveillance camera footage showed a white or light-colored extended-bed, crew-cab pickup with gray trim near the scene hauling a small trailer. Video also showed embers from the fire falling on a nearby storage facility and foliage, and police said the incident could have led to far greater losses were it not for the cold winter weather.
The fire did present an immediate potential threat to the neighboring Wingspread Mobile Home community. Flames were extinguished with no reported injuries.
McComb was booked at Jackson County Jail on charges of criminal mischief, first degree; theft, second degree; and reckless endangering of another person. Details of the investigation were not immediately available.
Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news or call or text him at 541-631-1313.
