Hobos among suspects in fires

Officials say the Nov. 30 fire at Clovis’ Paper Recycling Depot appears to be “a set fire.”

And suspects include hobos riding the trains.

Clovis fire Marshal Allan Silvers said Monday the recycling center fire remains under investigation, along with the Nov. 21 fire at the former Guadalajara restaurant. Both locations are near the railroad tracks.

No official cause has been determined for either blaze.

Silvers said investigators believe fires were set in front of the recycling center and inside the building. He said possibilities include people getting off of trains and looking for a place to stay.

Clovis Police Sgt. Daron Roach said police have arrested six people for trespassing on railroad property since Nov. 1. All were confirmed riding illegally on trains, he said.

“Most of them are traveling hobos,” Roach said.

BNSF Railway owns the property. It has signs posted and employs a full-time officer to monitor the trains and property for trespassers.

“They pursue charges and actively contact us any time there is somebody out there,” Roach said.

Although the tracks are private property, there is no fence separating the Paper Recycling Depot from the tracks, about 80 feet away.

There is also no fence between the tracks and the former Guadalajara restaurant.

Silvers said the fire department had responded to two or three small fires inside the Guadalajara before the Nov. 21 fire destroyed the building.

Battalion Chief Mike Nolan said officials had received a report of someone burning trash in a can at the location trying to stay warm in the evening.

Silvers said officials have more leads to follow in both fires.