A Lehigh Man has been charged with 1st Degree Arson following a Saturday morning fire in Lehigh, according to a press release from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
On March 8, 2025 at approximately 10:08AM the Webster County Communications Center received a 911 call of a structure fire at 673 Maple Street in Lehigh, Iowa. Upon arrival deputies reported the first floor of the house was engulfed with flames. The resident was contacted and advised that the house was currently vacant.
Upon investigation deputies located numerous individuals that had witnessed a white dodge pickup parked in front for the residence for a very brief period. Other witnesses came forward and positively identified the driver of this vehicle as Calvin Mumper of Lehigh. An attempt to locate this vehicle was broadcasted to area law enforcement officers with Mumper being a person of interest in the fire.
At approximately 11:20AM officers with the Iowa State Patrol located this vehicle traveling south on Paragon Avenue toward Dayton, Iowa. Officers initiated a traffic stop at 805 3rd Street NE in Dayton where the driver, Calvin Mumper, was detained without incident. While being detrained Mumper advised that there were multiple firearms in the vehicle.
Detectives with the Webster County Criminal Investigations Division interviewed Mumper at the Webster County Law Enforcement Center. During the course of the interview Mumper admitted to starting the fire with the intent of burning the residence.
Mumper was subsequently charge with the following:
– 32-year-old Calvin Mumper, of Lehigh, IA
· Arson 1st Degree – Class B Felony
Mumper is currently being held in the Webster County Jail on $25,000 bond.
The Webster County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Iowa State Patrol, Lehigh Fire Department, Dayton Fire Department, Dayton EMS, Otho Fire Department and Duncombe Fire Department.
The following structure fire is also an ongoing investigation.
According to the release, the home of Mumper’s mother, June Mumper, had burned down this past February, but no charges were filed in the incident.