FOREST, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—In the early hours of March 18, the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call regarding a fire at an abandoned house trailer located at 19015 County Highway 53 in Forest. The call, received around 2:56 AM, reported the trailer was fully engulfed in flames.
Fire personnel from multiple nearby stations, in collaboration with deputies from the Sheriff’s Office, quickly arrived at the scene to extinguish the blaze. After the fire was put out, investigators suspected foul play, leading the Wyandot County Major Crimes Unit and the State of Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office to launch a detailed investigation.
Through their efforts, investigators established that the fire was deliberately set, classifying it as arson. They developed a lead, prompting them to secure a residential search warrant for a property at 11651 County Highway 81, also in Forest. This location is associated with Kaleb J. Barger.
Upon executing the search warrant, investigators discovered items believed to be linked to the incident. Following a subsequent interview with Barger, authorities indicated that criminal charges for arson would soon be submitted to the Wyandot County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Detectives have assured the community that this is an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety. The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the fire departments and emergency services that assisted at the scene, including Wharton Fire, Upper Sandusky Fire Department, Pitt Fire, Marseilles Fire, Forest Fire, and Hardin County EMS.