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WEBVTT PERSON BURNS BRIDGES?"> Thnormally quiet road was bustlingwith activity as people came to view and take pictures of the charred remains of Cedar Bridg<"IT'S SCARY TO SEE SOMETHING THAT I JUST SAW MAYBE A MONTH BEFORE, TWO MONTHSBEFORE JUST DESTROYED.">The Cedar Bridge has a specialplace in Charity Rosander's heart... she was married in the gazebo right next to it.Charity Rosander, 4695, married next to cedar bridge, 50:01 - 50:04) <"WE DROVE OVER THE BRIDGE, TOOK PICTURESEVERYTHING"> Charity Rosander,4695, married next to cedar bridge, 53:19 - 53:29) <"IT SUCKS ITSUCKS ITS KIND OF ONE OF THOSERARE MOMENTS WHERE YOU'RE SPEECHLESS YOU DON'T KNOW WHATTO SAY OR WHAT TO THINK."><"A PART OF OUR COUNTY HISTORY, FUNDRAISED BY THE COUNTY TO REBUILD THE OTHER ONE THAT WAS BURNED DOWN."> An arsonist set fire to thoriginal Cedar Bridge inSeptember of 2002. Police say that case remains unsolved andthey have not found the personresponsible.<"YOU CAN STILL SMELL THE CHARRED WOOD AND IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY YOU CAN HEAR THE ENTIRE BRIDGE CREAKING. COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOPE THAT WHOEVER DID THIS IS CAUGHTSOON."> <"IT'S MIND BLOWING AND SICK OF WHOEVER DID IT."> <"IF SOMEBODDID THIS FOR FUN OR AS A JOKE,THAT'S A SICK JOKE."> <"I KNOW THAT THEY DIDN'T CATCH THE LAST GUYTHAT DID IT BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT THEY CATCH THIS ONE.">

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A historic Madison County bridge was destroyed early Saturday after officials say an arsonist set it ablaze. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said the fire was reported around 6 a.m. at the Cedar Covered Bridge, which is featured on the cover of the best-selling novel “The Bridges of Madison County.” When firefighters arrived at the scene, the bridge was engulfed in flames on the north edge of Winterset. Madison County Sheriff Jason Barnes said there was no electricity to the bridge and doesn’t suspect the fire was weather-related. “There are no power sources to the bridge to speak of, any power source that is there is not able to do that damage,” Barnes said. “We know of no weather in the area like a lightning strike or something like that.” He said authorities are investigating the case as arson, though no arrests have been made as of Saturday afternoon. “I don’t know what’s going through their minds,” Barnes said. “I don’t want to know. It’s just unfortunate.” The original Cedar Bridge was built in 1883 before it burned in September 2002. Investigators have determined the fire to be arson but no arrests were ever made. The Madison County Board of Supervisors constructed a million-dollar replica of the original bridge, which opened in October 2004. There were fire retardants on the wood and cameras positioned to prevent future arsonists. The last time a bridge was lost to arson was in 1983 when a local man set fire to the McBride Bridge. The 1992 novel “The Bridges of Madison County” was written by Iowa native Robert James Waller, who died March 10, and a movie adaptation starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood followed in 1995.A short-lived musical starring Kelli O’Hara and Steven Pasquale came around in 2014, capturing the story about an Iowa farm woman’s whirlwind romance with a traveling photographer. “It’s very important in the community,” Barnes said. “It’s almost their identity. When you think of Madison County, you think of those bridges.” Droves of Iowans bustled to the normally quiet road to view the damage and take pictures of the charred remains. The Cedar Covered Bridge has a special place in Charity Rosander's heart because she was married in the gazebo right next to it. "We drove over the bridge, took pictures, everything," Rosander said. "It sucks. It's one of those rare moments where you're speechless; you don't know what to say or what to think." Residents said they hope the culprit is apprehended soon. "It's mind-blowing and sick of whoever did it," Rosander said.Madison County officials said they are following several leads thanks to multiple witnesses who have come forward with information. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 515-462-3575.