Olson charged in 'Mama Moose' fire

Thirty-three-year-old Alicia M. Olson, of Wallingford, was arrested by Palo Alto County Sheriff's on a valid warrant, Saturday, Dec. 6, at 10:15 a.m., following an investigation into a fire that caused extensive damage to the "Mama Moose" restaurant in Ruthven on Christmas Eve in 2005.

Olson, co-owner of the restaurant at the time of the blaze, was booked into the Palo Alto County Jail as she was not able to post the $26,000 bond.

Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire, the Iowa Fire Marshall's office was contacted to assist in the investigation of the fire. The Ruthven Fire Department and Palo Alto County Sheriff's office were notified of the fire on Christmas Eve at 8:57 a.m. Upon arrival, smoke was coming out of the structure from several locations. The fire department extinguished the blaze, but not before it caused extensive structural and smoke damage.

An investigation led to the charges of arson in the second degree and first degree fraudulent practices being filed on Olson. Both offenses are class "C" felony charges.

The Palo Alto County Sheriff's office was assisted by the Ruthven Fire Department, the Iowa Fire Marshall's office and the Palo Alto County Attorney's office.