$10K reward offered after arson at Wilderness Resort dorm in Wisconsin Dells

WISCONSIN DELLS -- The ATF and Wisconsin Arson Insurance Council are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with an arson which destroyed a dorm at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells on Jan. 25, which caused $5 million in damage.

ATF officials said in a news release Wednesday, Jan. 31 the scene has been processed, and now, investigators are looking for information from the public that could assist with this investigation.

The fire happened during the early morning hours of Jan. 25 at the Wilderness Resort on E. Adams St. Crews were called to the scene around 4 a.m. after security noticed smoke at the building site of the Wilderness Resort J-1 dormitory for students -- which is currently under construction. According to WMTV, officials did not believe anyone was in the building that was burning -- and the building next to it was evacuated.

The dorm was being built to house foreign students enrolled in the J-1 visa program. More than 3,000 such students have worked in the Dells area in recent years.

Wilderness Resort officials said the construction for the dormitory was scheduled to be done in June 2018. They also said the resort was not impacted by the fire and will be operating as usual.

There were no injuries and no employees or guests were affected by the fire.

The ATF joined the investigation on Jan. 26.

Wilderness Resort fire

Wilderness Resort fire

The investigation is ongoing.

Those with information can dial 1-888-ATF-FIRE, email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit an anonymous tip through the ReportIt app. When reporting, be sure to include as many details as possible and contact information for potential follow up (optional).

Wisconsin Arson Insurance Council provides rewards up to $5,000 based on whether the information provided leads to the identification of the person(s) responsible for the fire. ATF is contributing the other $5,000.