Mother defends plant fire suspects

CUDAHY, Wis., July 17 (UPI) -- The mother of two brothers accused of starting a destructive fire at a Patrick Cudahy meat plant in Cudahy, Wis., said the incident was a stupid accident.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said a woman identifying herself as the mother of Kurtis Popp, 25, and Joshua Popp, 23, told authorities her sons were just acting stupid when they shot a military flare that has been blamed for the Fourth of July blaze.

"They didn't know it was going to get this far," the woman, whose name was not reported, said.

Authorities confirmed Thursday one suspect is in custody in relation to the holiday blaze while another was being brought in from out of state.

Investigators suspect the fire, which caused more than $50 million in damage to the plant while raging for nearly three days, was started by a military illumination flare.

The Journal Sentinel said investigators do not suspect the blaze was intentionally set, a theory supported by Kurtis Popp's attorney, Julius Kim.

"There was no malicious intent," Kim said. "This was not an act of domestic terrorism. This wasn't a person who had a beef to pick with this plant."