EPHRATA - The Grant County Fire Marshal's Office and the Grant County Sheriff's Office have organized a joint Arson Task Force to combat arson fires in Grant County.

The Arson Task Force has been formed to help solve a growing arson problem in Grant County by collaborating on the investigation of future suspicious fires. It includes local fire departments and law enforcement.

"The goal of the Arson Task Force is to focus resources to investigate and prosecute individuals who intentionally destroy personal property and put the lives of first responders in danger while fighting these fires," Sheriff Tom Jones said.

Jones said local communities have come together to combine resources and to ask citizens to join them in stopping arson. Citizens are asked to be aware of what is going on around their property and to clean up combustibles that an arsonist could use to start a fire.

Citizens should notify their local fire department, law enforcement or the Grant County Fire Marshal's Office (509-754-2011) if they have information regarding any fire.

"We know there are people out there who have information that will help us arrest and prosecute the people involved in setting these fires," Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Bruce Gribble said. "We need help from the public to solve these crimes."