Two Men Face Arson Charges in Fairview Fire

Police say the arrests stem from a tip from a member of the public.

20-year old Wesley Kirk and 20-year old Robert Riggi, both of Keizer, were arrested without incident, and charged with second-degree Arson in the January 27, 2010 fire.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem Police detectives arrested two men today in conjunction with the January 27th three alarm fire that destroyed Pierce Cottage at Fairview, the closed state institute in South Salem.

Salem Police Lt. Steve Birr, says 20-year old Wesley Kirk and 20-year old Robert Riggi, both of Keizer, were arrested without incident, and charged with second-degree Arson.

Both suspects are being booked into the Marion County Correctional Facility.

Birr says the arrests stem from a tip from a member of the public.

The fire at Fairview claimed a turn of the century building that had several uses over the years.

It reportedly was used for living and working purposes by staff, as a school, and as a recreation building.

Birr says anyone with additional information on this investigation is asked to call Salem Police detectives at (503)588-6050.

Original report and special follow up report on the Fairview fire:

Feb-01-2010: A Mad World...Fairview Training Center Up in Flames - Bonnie King Salem-News.com

Jan-27-2010: Fire Rages at Old Fairview Training Center in Salem - Video by Jerry Freeman Story by Tim King Salem-News.com

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Wow you all should be ashamed of you're selves judging these human beings without knowing the true and complete story, all of you have been deceived by you're local media.

Oh man way to throw your life away wow you morons now their future is totally ruined. I was a dumb kid too so i understand mischief a bit but guys come on... We need better prevention somehow... I'm not sure exactly where the link in the chain broke for these two. There has been so many fires in Salem in the past 2 weeks it is unbelievable... People need to be careful.

They are 20. i went to school with them. Wes was always getting into trouble

I agree, Natalie, those don't look like "men". But they will serve hard time for that arson, if convicted, and will be "angry men" if/when they survive incarceration and get out. This is a societal failure that starts at home. If they really did that, no respect for themselves or others' property was instilled into these boys. Our penal system isn't likely to do that for them either.

epic fail

Speaking of kids advanced development in the 21st century... I had a family of my own at that age. Oh, right, that was another century, and we didn't play with matches at 20. These boys look like 15 to me, that's strange...

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