A stolen 1999 Nissan Altima was recovered Monday after the perpetrators apparently set the car ablaze.

According to Safford Captain Dennis Whisman, the vehicle was reported stolen Saturday night, and the call about a vehicle fire approximately 13 miles east of Safford came in at about 12:47 p.m. The Nissan was found ditched in a wash about a mile south of Highway 70 on 111 Ranch Road.

A Graham County deputy and a Department of Public Safety officer were first on the scene, followed by the Safford Fire Department. As firefighters extinguished the blaze and cooled off the car, authorities soon learned it was the stolen Altima. The car was torched nearly beyond recognition, but firefighters managed to keep the fire from spreading to nearby brush.

Safford Fire Chief Mike Rhodes, left, and firefighter Craig Bingham douse a car fire about 13 miles east of Safford. The car was later found to be stolen. Photo by Jon Johnson

Safford detectives arrived and began to comb the surrounding desert for evidence.

According to Whisman, one theory is that the subject or subjects ditched the car in the wash previously and hiked away before returning in another car and setting the fire.

Whisman said detectives are following up on several leads but do not have any potential suspects in custody. Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department at 348-3190.