by Kim St. Onge / KCCI

The FBI has launched an investigation into a series of fires along the Bakken oil pipeline construction in Jasper County. The latest incident was reported late Saturday night near Reasnor.

A backhoe and three bulldozers were damaged by the fire. Officials with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office estimate $2,000,000 in damages to the equipment.

According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the preliminary investigation indicates that fires were intentionally set. The equipment was operated by one of the companies contracted by the Dakota Access Pipeline project.

This is the same location that equipment was believed to be intentionally set on fire in August.

Reasnor Assistant Fire Chief Don Steenhoek told KCCI he suspects pipeline protesters are to blame.

“(It’s) pretty senseless,” Steenhoek told KCCI Sunday. “They’re not getting back at the pipeline. They’re just hurting the guys trying to make a living and put it in.”

Adam Mason, of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, said people who are quick to point a finger at protesters need to understand that many Iowans oppose the pipeline.

“That definitely is frustrating when one event like this paints the larger pipeline resistance movement as being violent,” Mason said.

Questions were also raised about protesters’ involvement in an August fire that caused $1 million in damage.

“It gives our opposition the chance to paint everybody who is opposed to the pipeline as an extremist,” Mason said. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Jasper County investigators said they cannot confirm if the two incidents are connected, but point to a lot of similarities – including the location and type of equipment damaged.

The Iowa State Fire Marshal, ATF and FBI are all investigating the case. Dakota Access is offering $100,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.