On March 29, 2010 at 3:56 A.M., Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 was dispatched to Hwy 61 and Old Hwy 61 for a fireworks tent on fire.  Arriving fire units encountered heavy fire and a barrage of explosions inside and outside the 1,800 square foot tent.  Firefighters fought through the fireworks explosions and quickly extinguished the fire within ten minutes of arrival.

Shortly after the initial call, Lincoln County Central Dispatch received a report of two male subjects running through private property nearby.  The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Troy Police and Moscow Mills Police responded and located one of the men in the woods.  Officers also located the second subject after an extensive search  however, the man evaded capture as a Sheriff’s Deputy was attempting to arrest him.  Deputies later captured the second man. 

Lincoln County Fire Marshal Barry Nuss and an assisting investigator from the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was intentionally set.  The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is actively investigating the case and expects to have charges filed as early as today.