Arson suspected after fire destroys 3 Pittsburgh police vehicles
A suspicious fire overnight Wednesday gutted three Pittsburgh Police cruisers at their Training Academy facility.
Pittsburgh police said they are investigating the incident as an arson case.
The three cars were parked in the academy parking lot. ATF investigators arrived on scene early Wednesday morning at the academy at 900 N. Lincoln Ave. in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood.
Officials said the flames broke out around 2:30 a.m. and were fully engulfed when fire crews arrived.
Just after 2:30 a.m., Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and Pittsburgh Police responded the parking lot directly adjacent to the Police Training Academy for a vehicle fire.
Three Pittsburgh Police cruisers in the lot were fully engulfed in flames.
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The vehicles were unoccupied and no one was injured, according to police. The fires did not spread beyond the three cruisers, they said.
All three vehicles are considered a total loss.
Investigators said they believe the fires were set intentionally. A K-9 unit and Pittsburgh’s Fire Investigation Unit are assisting with the investigation.
Police said they do not have any suspects at this time.
Privately owned surveillance cameras in the area will be used in the investigation.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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