Youths face arson charges in library fire

Youths face arson charges in library fire

September 11, 2001

JAN REINEKE (left) and Bev Cattles, both librarians, survey damage at the Dolores Library on Monday. The damage, which extended up onto the ceiling, was done by an arson fire Saturday.

By Janelle Holden
Journal Staff Writer

After three youths allegedly dropped a lighted book of matches into the Dolores Public Library’s book drop on Saturday, a lucky glance from two passersby kept the building from burning down.

Mary and Dale Ott were driving through town on Railroad Avenue early Saturday evening when they saw flames coming from the building.

According to Montezuma County Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Kalvin Boggs, Mary Ott stopped the car and ran to put out the flames, which was licking the building and book drop, with water from a nearby garden hose connected to the building. An unidentified couple at the scene told the Otts they had called the fire department. The crews arrived shortly thereafter to help put out the fire.

According to librarian Bev Cattles, the fire damaged the front reading room — burning blinds, chairs, and a plant, and blowing ashes into the nearby computers. It completely burned up the book drop, but no books, magazines, or reading materials caught on fire inside.

"There was a lot of smoke. I mean it’s still yucky in here," said Cattles. "Considering what could have happened, it’s amazing that there is as little damage as there is."

The library was closed on Monday to clean up and assess the fire damage, but library officials planned to open today.

Three juvenile suspects, ages 10, 13, and 17, were charged with second-degree arson for starting the blaze. A witness across the street saw the young males drop a book of lit matches into the library’s book drop before speeding away on their skateboards.

The three are from the Dolores area, according to Boggs.