This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Tooele police are still asking for help from the public a week after a suspected arson fire destroyed seven homes and damaged more than two dozen others.

Police had questioned 24-year-old Jesse G. Barger last week because he had allegedly been in the area at the time the night of the July 19 fire, police spokeswoman Tanya Turnbow said, but was never named by police as a person of interest or a suspect.

Barger was in police custody after he had been booked for warrants unrelated to the fire and was later released.

Detectives have been following up on leads, Turnbow said Wednesday, but there was nothing new to report.

While Turnbow noted last week that Tooele police and the state Fire Marshal's Office were cooperating in the arson probe, she said she was not at liberty to detail why investigators determined the fire was intentionally set in a field close to the neighborhood at 700 South and Coleman Street.

"All I can say is that from evidence [arson investigators] gathered with us on scene, the fire was set intentionally," she told The Tribune.

The fire began on the south side of the tinder-dry field about 10:30 p.m. Hot, dry conditions and a 30 mph canyon winds blew the flames into the neighborhood, giving residents just minutes to evacuate.

The fire blackened 30 acres of grass and sagebrush along with several outbuildings and vehicles. Eyewitnesses said the blaze burned hot and fast, leveling the homes in a matter of minutes.

About 30 residents were displaced by the fire.

mnoble@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mnoblenews