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Click Here 44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 21, 2004 Suspect named in warehouse fire By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Eighteen months after an enormous fire destroyed a cold-storage warehouse near downtown, Medford police have charged a man suspected of starting the blaze. Steven Ray Kummerfeld, 43, is currently in jail in Phoenix, Ariz., on a robbery charge. He has a long criminal history in Medford, and when the legal proceedings in Arizona are complete, Medford police plan to bring him here to face charges listed on outstanding felony warrants and the new fire-related charges. When the warehouse fire at 410 S. Front St., broke out around 10:30 p.m. Aug. 27, 2002, people reported seeing a man running from the building, Medford police Lt. Tim George said. The fire consumed the old warehouse, owned by Cold Springs Packing Co., causing roughly $500,000 damage. Fire crews monitored the smoldering rubble for four days, soaking it with 4 million gallons of water, fire officials said. Medford fire and police departments, fire departments from Ashland and Phoenix, Oregon State Police and the state fire marshal’s office all investigated the fire, which was deemed suspicious. George said more than 200 hours were spent investigating. Advertisement Medford police Detective Steve Edson, who retired last year, identified several suspects — one a homeless man with a long criminal history who had lit some papers for light in the warehouse — but was unable to make any definitive links. Detective Justin Ivens took up the case after Edson’s retirement. Kummerfeld had been interviewed as a person of interest, George said. Investigators plan additional interviews when he returns to Medford. He faces misdemeanor charges of reckless burning and criminal mischief, George said. An arson charge would require proof that he set the fire intentionally or endangered the lives of others with the fire, George explained. The felony warrants issued on Kummerfeld charge that he failed to appear on theft, forgery, drug and trespassing charges. Information on his whereabouts was sought through the Crime Stoppers program earlier this month, and a tipster told authorities he was in jail in Arizona, George said. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times