Hibbing Car, Garage Fire Deemed Arson

The Hibbing Fire Department is offering a reward and seeking the public’s help in locating the person or persons responsible for two arson fires that appear to be related. 

Fire crews were called to a garage fire at 510 East 25th Street on January 5 at 3:30 in the morning.  

When firefighters arrived on scene, there were visible flames shooting out the garage door and through the roof. 

The garage has been deemed a total loss. Damage estimates sit at $15,000. 

The garage is owned by Todd and Merritt Saatoff, who are the parents of Dennis Saatoff.   Dennis recently pleaded guilty to arson in the Bougalis storage building fire in Hibbing last year. 

Last August, a pick-up truck owned by Rex Ray also caught on fire.  Rex is the father of Luke Ray, a co-defendant who also pleaded guilty to arson in the Bougalis fire. 

Both the garage and car fire have been deemed arson. 

The fire department is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Arson hotline at 1-800-723-2020.