Burglary discovered after grass fire on SH-36 prompts investigation

Coryell County law enforcement is asking the public for help after investigators uncovered a burglary while responding to a suspicious grass fire in the county. Officers traced a grass fire reported Jan. 6 near the 9700 block of South State Highway 36 and, during follow-up activity on Jan. 10, located a nearby vacant house that had been burglarized.

The sheriff’s criminal investigations division is leading the inquiry, joined by the county environmental compliance officer and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Their joint involvement indicates the investigation covers both the fire’s origin and the property crime discovered at the scene. The sheriff’s office has asked anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 254-865-7201.

For residents along SH-36 and in surrounding unincorporated areas, the incident highlights risks tied to vacant properties and unattended vegetation fires. Investigators have not released additional details about items taken, the timeline of the burglary, or whether the fire was intentionally set. The presence of multiple agencies at the scene suggests law enforcement is treating both the fire and the burglary as connected matters requiring cross-agency coordination.

Rural corridors like South State Highway 36 are vulnerable to fast-moving grass fires, and vacant homes can attract trespassers who exploit low visibility and reduced neighborhood activity. The county environmental compliance officer’s role in the response focuses on fire causes and compliance with open-burning rules, while the State Fire Marshal typically assists with technical origin-and-cause analysis. The criminal investigations division will handle evidence related to the burglary and pursue leads from tips.

Officials are urging neighbors to review security measures for vacant properties, report unfamiliar vehicles or people near empty homes, and call the sheriff’s office with any information that could help investigators. Community tips remain a crucial tool in clearing cases in smaller jurisdictions where local knowledge often points detectives toward suspects or patterns.

The investigation is ongoing; residents should expect possible follow-up from law enforcement and patrols in the area while inquiries continue. Providing timely, specific information to the Criminal Investigations Division at 254-865-7201 is the most direct way for community members to assist and help protect neighborhood safety.