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WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Treasure Coast News - Detectives search for suspect who ignited Hobe Sound fire

Detectives search for suspect who ignited Hobe Sound fire

HOBE SOUND, Fla. -- Firefighters fought flames and flare ups for days in Hobe Sound. Homeowners suffered smoke damage to homes and taxpayers footed the bill for the mop-up. Detectives are searching for a suspect who started the fire.

It was an awful sight for Marvin Loiselle and his wife. 105 acres burned right up to and surrounding their home in Poinciana Gardens in Hobe Sound. Today Marvin and surrounding neighbors were interviewed by Martin County Sheriff detectives trying to find the person or persons who started a campfire on April 12, and then let it spread.

"I support them 100 percent, they are looking for the people who started this because the cost of this fire had to be a lot and its going to be really taxing on our tax dollars," said Loiselle.

Florida Forestry Service spent weeks and $40,000 in manpower and fuel fighting this fire. They call it suppression costs, and someone is responsible for them.

"If somebody does start a wildfire, they could be liable for suppression costs, they could get a bill," said Melissa Yunas, Florida Forest Service.

Tack on another $120,000 in manpower, fuel, and costs to Martin County Fire Rescue, the amount fire chiefs estimate the county spent for days on scene fighting the fire, then its 3 major flare-ups. The suppression cost bill gets much larger for the person who started that campfire.

"It'd be a great idea if we could figure out who started it. So then we can teach that person, whether it's a kid or an adult, so it never happens again," said Yunas.

An expensive lesson.

"Nobody should be out doing any kind of burning. Not just the fact of the fire, but because of the damage we had inside of our house as far as smoke and black ash. We've been living with the smoke and black ash ever since it happened," said Loiselle.

The person or persons responsible can also face civil lawsuits for damages to homes. Rarely are they held 100-percent accountable for all of the costs and the cases are very difficult to prosecute without witnesses. Detectives search for suspect who ignited Hobe Sound fire

Tuesday, May 1 2012, 02:34 PM EDT

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