ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Police say that Saturday's Rock Island Livestock Auction barn fire was deliberately set.
According to a Tuesday morning news release, the Rock Island Fire Marshal determined the fire to be the result of a deliberate act. The fire is being investigated as arson by the Rock Island Police Department Investigations Division.
As a result of the fire, 25 cattle were rescued, one head of cattle died and one cow that escaped was eventually located around 5 p.m. on Monday near the 100 block of 31st Avenue.
Rock Island firefighters and the Rock Island Public Works Department are still working to extinguish smoldering hay, which is estimated to smolder for up to 10 days.
News 8 spoke with the owner of Lathrop Transport, the company that owns the property, who said that they are disappointed in the lack of respect shown by the suspected arson.
The City of Rock Island said that the barn was built in the early 1930's and its first cattle auction took place on Jan. 25, 1936.
This story will be updated as more information is made available.