The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking the public’s help as it investigates a suspected arson at the Allegan State Game Area. It says just after 5 a.m. on Sunday Allegan County Central Dispatch received a report from a helicopter crew flying over the area of a “significant fire” south of 116th Avenue in Valley Township. The crew said the fire was consuming large logs, which turned out to be two decks of cut timber, each about 30 feet tall by 150 feet long, and all of it nearly burned to the ground. The fire is believed to have been started between 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 a.m. Sunday. It was put out by the Clyde Township Fire Department and DNR fire personnel with help from the Fennville, Allegan District, and Lee Township fire departments. Billsby Lumber Company, which originally purchased the timber, is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. The estimated value of the lost timber is between $30,000 and $35,000. Arsons on state land are rare, as the DNR says just 4% of fires it responds to are arson.
