Sandbar Fire Ruled Arson

Fire destroys the Sandbar at Bass Lake

The fire at the Sandbar at Bass Lake has been ruled an arson.

Detectives with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department have determined that some unknown individual(s) started the fire in the early morning hours of Dec. 2. Five fire departments battled the blaze at the popular Starke County establishment and it took three hours to extinguish the fire.

At this time, officials are not releasing information on how the fire was started, due to the open investigation.

Detectives are asking for your help in gathering information about this incident. There is a reward of up to $5,000 if you can give information that leads to the arrest of any person(s) involved in this arson. Your anonymous tip can possibly help solve this investigation. Call in any information to 1-800-382-4628.

The reward is provided by the International Association of Arson Investigators, Indiana Chapter #14 in cooperation with the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office.