Shawnee Forest Fire Ruled Arson

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio - Ohio forestry officials say they now have outside confirmation that they did not cause the Shawnee State Forest wildfire.
   
The West Virginia Division of Forestry found that the fire resulted from arson. It began April 24 and spread through more than 2,800 acres of the forest near Portsmouth.
   
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources asked for the outside investigation after some critics blamed the fire on Ohio foresters’ “controlled burn.“ Such burns are usually meant to help the forest’s natural system.
   
Some state officials have accused a volunteer firefighter of starting the blaze, but critics such as the Buckeye Forest Council have said he is being made into a scapegoat.

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