Reward grows to $100,000 in Stowe arson investigation

October 24, 2020  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

The Stoware Common Building after suspected arson on March 30, 2019. Photo by Gordon Miller.

UPDATE: The reward for information to catch and convict those responsible for a string of arsons in Stowe has more than tripled recently and it now stands at $100,000. 

The increase from $30,000 to $100,000 comes “largely from two anonymous donors,” according to Det. Sgt. Fred Whitcomb at the Stowe Police Department. “We are very fortunate to have community partners that are passionate about finding who is responsible for this.”

Original story posted October 10, 2020

A reward offer from local, state and federal fire investigators eager to catch those responsible for a slew of arsons in Stowe has been doubled by an anonymous local donor, bringing it to $30,000. 

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Sept. 25 announced the initial $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible for more than a dozen fires believed to be arson in Stowe since 2016. 

ATF, Stowe Police Department and the Vermont the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program contributed equally to that amount. After the reward was announced, Stowe Police followed up with an update saying that “a benevolent Stowe community member” who wishes to remain anonymous pledged to double the incentive for a total of $30,000. 

Stowe Police Det. Sgt. Fred Whitcomb said that since the announcement, police have received some tips but none so far has yielded a significant break. Whitcomb said investigators hope the increased attention to the mystery will prompt someone to recall and share information that could be helpful. 

Four of the suspicious fires have happened just since June, with the two most recent occurring overnight on Aug. 29-30. The first that night was contained to a trash dumpster on River Road followed by another at the Stowe Cable Systems building on Thomas Lane that fire crews managed to extinguish before it caused much damage. 

There have been no injuries in any of the fires; officials estimate that the combined property damage has exceeded $4 million. The largest of the fires ruled an arson happened on March 30, 2019, and destroyed the Stoware Common commercial building at 638 S. Main St. The same night, another suspected arson damaged the Helen Day Art Center building that also houses the Stowe Free Library on Pond St. 

Whitcomb shared a police statement regarding the investigation saying that police and fire officials are concerned about the “escalating nature of these fires and the risk they potentially pose to public safety” meaning both to the public and to first responders. 

Police ask that the public remain vigilant, especially at night given that most of the fires have occurred with “the cover of darkness.” Whitcomb said the adage “If you see something, say something” applies, especially if something seems out of the ordinary in downtown Stowe. 

Anyone with information to share with investigators may contact Stowe Police at 802-253-7126 or the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program line at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766); or the 24-hour federal ATF hotline at 1-888-ATF-FIRE (1-888-283-3473).