The Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office joined forces with all police agencies in South Montgomery County to conduct a joint investigation into a series of dumpster fires and one large house fire. There have been a series of dumpster fires near area schools and businesses this year. These fires have occurred across several different City and County areas. Many of these dumpster fires have occurred at Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Elementary, Oak Ridge Ninth Grade (old York), Houser, Vogel, and Ford Elementary.
On August 31, 2008, a dumpster was set on fire at Ford Elementary on Richards road at around 0300 hours. At the same time a suspicious fire occurred in a 4000 square foot home under construction near Ford Elementary. The home, valued at around $400,000.00, was completely destroyed by the fire. The new owners were just weeks away from moving into their new custom dream home.
A few nights later on Sept 3rd, several more dumpsters were intentionally set on fire in the same area, all in a one hour period.
As the frequency of these fires increased and with the targeting of a home under construction, Investigators were convinced that the fires would continue to escalate and involve targets other than dumpsters and vacant buildings.
Although Investigators from several different agencies had been collaborating on the investigation, it was decided that a "Task Force" approach was needed to catch this serial arsonist before he injured himself or others.
Officers from every Law Enforcement agency in South Montgomery County came together and formed this task force with the single goal of stopping these fires as soon as possible. Within 48 hours of stepped up patrols and the forming of the Task Force, the suspect was identified and detained near the scene of two more arson fires.
On Thursday night, Sept 4, these two fires occurred in the target area identified by the Task Force. A dumpster at Vogel Intermediate School was set on fire. A security camera captured the event. A short while later a barn/storage building in a nearby wooded area was intentionally set on fire. Members of the newly formed Arson Task Force were in the area and responded to the area while firefighters were extinguishing both fires. A Task Force member, a Conroe Independent School District Police Officer, detained a subject near the shed fire that fit the description of an earlier identified suspect.
Forensic evidence was collected at both fire scenes last night that implicates this suspect in these two latest fires. The suspect, Curtis Alan McGee, age 25, was charged with 1 count of Criminal Mischief (the dumpster) and 1 count of 2nd degree Felony for the structure fire in the woods. McGee remains in the Montgomery County jail at the time of this release. Multiple additional charges against McGee are pending.
The public is encouraged to contact the Fire Marshal's Office or the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers, 1-800-STOP-7867, with any information about this series of fires.
Agencies Involved:
o Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office
o Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
o Montgomery County Constable's Office, Pct. 3
o Conroe Independent School District Police Department
o Oak Ridge Police Department
o Shenandoah Police Department
