A truck fire early Wednesday in the driveway of a Johnson Street home was probably set intentionally, according to the city’s fire marshal.
About 20 firefighters from the Eagle Hose Hook & Ladder and Webster Hose Hook & Ladder volunteer fire companies responded to the fire, which was reported about 1 a.m. Wednesday (March 26) at a multi-family house at 18 Johnson St.
They arrived to find a flatbed plow truck in flames, Fire Marshal Ralph Tingley said. They were able to put out the fire before flames spread further.
The truck was parked about 4 feet from a garage on the property and another vehicle.
The garage and other vehicle sustained heat damage, Tingley said.
“The guys did a great job of containing it without getting the garage going,” he said.
There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
The home’s owner was not at the residence at the time, Tingley said.
“We found some signs that were leading us to believe that it was incendiary fire,” the fire marshal said.
He said he then called in an accelerant-sniffing dog from the the state fire marshal’s office.
Though he hasn’t officially ruled the fire an arson yet, he said indications are pointing in that direction.
“The dog did hit on a couple spots, we took the samples and we’ll get it confirmed,” Tingley said. “Right now we’re pointing toward it being intentionally set.”
Tingley said he couldn’t comment further at this stage of the investigation.
