Buildings destroyed in Burley arson fire to be demolished, owner said they were not insured

Times-News (Twin Falls, ID)

Feb. 09--BURLEY -- The buildings destroyed in a downtown Burley arson fire will soon be demolished.

Investigators gave owner Brek Piling permission to tear down the buildings, he said.

"We really want to catch these guys, and we are cooperating with the investigations team," Pilling said.

Pilling said there was no insurance coverage on either destroyed building.

"The buildings were vacant and had no value so there was no insurance coverage on them," he said.

He had originally intended to tear the buildings down himself, which would have saved money. Now the job will require professionals.

"We went inside and the buildings were really unstable," Pilling said.

He is in the process of soliciting bids for the job.

"We are asking the public to be patient while we get them demolished," Pilling said.

The building at 1222 Overland Ave., was set on fire Jan. 29 using rags and paper inside the building. The blaze tore through the upper story of the building and collapsed an interior section of the building.

Fire officials said the adjacent vacant building was destroyed by water.

Across the street, firefighters discovered an undetonated pipe bomb at a new unopened restaurant tucked into the door handle. The bomb's fuse was lit but had gone out. The two crimes are under investigation as one incident.

All three buildings are owned by Pilling and his partner, Brian Tibbets.

City Administrator Mark Mitton said in an email to the Times-News that city officials were disconnecting the electrical services so the buildings can be demolished.

"Overland Avenue will be closed for two days when the demolition takes place," Mitton wrote. "Closing Overland is the best way to keep the public safe during the demolition project."

The state fire marshal is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

A fire accelerant was found throughout the building, a state fire marshal investigator said. Samples were sent to a lab for identification. The Cassia County Sheriff's Office recovered a pickup that was wanted in connection with the crimes, but officials are not releasing any information on who owns the truck or where it was found.

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