Suspicious fires

Posted: Friday, May 29, 2009 9:25 pm

 A fire that destroyed a vacant house being used to board cats in neighboring Fulton County, Ky., remains under investigation by authorities.

The fire early May 22 destroyed a farm house on KY 239 between Cayce, Ky., in Fulton County and Moscow, Ky., in Hickman County, Ky.

Fulton County Sheriff Bobby Hopper said an investigator from the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s Office visited the fire scene earlier this week to investigate.

In addition, fire officials are  investigating an earlier suspicious fire that destroyed a vacant farm house on Montgomery School Road in Fulton County, according to Hopper, who also noted a third suspicious fire occurred this week at an abandoned house in nearby Hickman County.

Lois Birk, president of the Ken-Tenn Humane Society, said the farm house that burned in Fulton County, near the Kentucky-Tennessee state line, was being used as a refuge for any cats rescued by the organization. She said the animals were all spayed and neutered and were being lodged at the house with appropriate bedding, feeding and recreation areas, with a member of the organization making a trip to the house at least once daily to feed, water and check on the animals.

The farm house did not have electricity, according to officials with the organization.

Mrs. Birk indicated the Ken-Tenn Humane Society had 32 cats at the farm house but had initially found only six of them in the aftermath of the fire. Members continued to search the area for surviving animals and have since found two more cats, both burned. One of the cats was reported to be badly burned and was found sitting in the charred remains, apparently in shock.

Mrs. Birk said Reelfoot Animal Hospital in Union City has agreed to treat the three cats that were injured in the fire.

She also indicated that a reward up to $1,000 is being offered through the Kentucky Arson Task Force for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the fire.

The Ken-Tenn Humane Society is a non-profit organization that operates Ann’s Place, a shelter for animals in Union City.

Published in The Messenger 5.29.09