GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A 35-year-old man from Grants Pass has been charged in connection with a fire that occurred at the A Street resting site on Monday evening. The fire, which broke out at around 5:10 p.m., prompted an immediate response from Grants Pass Police Department (GPPD) and Grants Pass Fire and Rescue.
According to GPPD, individuals at the scene attempted to control the fire by pouring water from bottles onto a tarp that had caught fire. The flames also caused damage to approximately eight feet of screening attached to the site’s fencing. Investigators quickly determined that the fire had been intentionally started.
Following a thorough investigation led by Grants Pass Police Sergeant Nieminen, authorities identified the suspect as Jack Doak, a 35-year-old resident of the A Street resting site. Doak has been charged with second-degree criminal mischief and reckless burning. These charges stem from the intentional nature of the fire, which could have posed significant risks to the people and property in the area.
This incident comes just over a week after another fire was reported at the 7th Street resting site on April 16. The cause of that fire remains under investigation. While details surrounding the 7th Street fire have yet to be released, the recurrence of fires at these public resting sites has raised concerns among residents and city officials.
As investigations into both fires continue, local authorities are urging individuals to take extra precautions in preventing fire hazards, particularly in areas where vulnerable populations gather.
Further updates on the investigation into the 7th Street fire are expected as the situation develops.