Albany Fire Department investigates arson at Albany business

ALBANY — After further investigation of a fire at an Albany business early Wednesday morning, investigators with the Albany Fire Department have determined the cause of the blaze was arson.

According to AFD reports, it appears that a vagrant taking respite inside a Lincoln Towncar located on the property of Albany Auto Parts at 1402 S. Slappey Blvd. accidentally set the vehicle on fire. The fire quickly spread to six other vehicles parked on the property.

Assistant Fire Chief Rubin Jordan said the initial call came in as a grass fire, but when firefighters arrived on the scene it was determined to be a vehicle fire. Due to fencing around the property, Jordan said firefighters had to set up a bridge using ladders to get to the burning vehicles where they then used roughly 1,500 gallons of water to subdue the blaze.

Jordan said AFD investigator Sam Harris was then called to the scene and made the arson determination, and added that the case was somewhat rare in Albany.

“Sam determined there was a hole in the fencing and that a vagrant was living in one of the cars,” said Jordan. “We have arson cases all the time, but this kind of thing usually happens in vacant houses. But as far as junkyards and a vagrant this is my first time hearing about about (something like this).”

Since there was a crime committed the case is still under investigation, and Jordan said Harris plans to review security tapes maintained by the business looking for further evidence.

“The salvage yard had a camera, so (Harris) wants to look at the tapes,” said Jordan.

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