Reward offered in downstate oil fires

WEST CITY -- A $10,000 reward is being offered by a company that lost 10 oil tanks in a weekend fire in southern Illinois that authorities are terming suspicious.

Authorities believe the blaze early Saturday in an oil field near Benton was intentionally set. Equipment at the site also reportedly has been vandalized.

Investigators say several independently owned oil companies have sustained damage in fires in recent months.

Saturday's fire damaged the oil field operated by Gesell's Pump Sales and Service Inc. of Whittington. That business is putting up the reward.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.