AARON LEO Article Last Updated: 08/19/2008
01:41:33 AM EDT
http://www.connpost.com/ci_10241486
BRIDGEPORT — About two dozen cars were damaged or destroyed in an apparent arson at Connecticut Mustang LLC late Monday.
The wall of a large metal warehouse containing car parts, cars, propane tanks and acetylene torches was also damaged, said Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Porzelt. But the torches and tanks didn't explode and a payloader was undamaged, he added.
Although the Fire Marshal Division was investigating the cause of the fire, Porzelt said he believed it was set with an unidentified accelerant.
"It was too hard to tell, there was so much fire," he said.
"We had a lot of fire showing. We found multiple fires set," he said.
The police weren't available for comment early today on whether they were also investigating.
The fire was a first for Connecticut Mustang owner Bob Parisi, who said he has been using the building at 5 Grant St. since 1999.
He declined to comment on the arson claim, but vowed to continue towing.
"They think they can set me back, now I just come back bigger and better," he said.
Most of the cars that burned had been abandoned, he added.
Porzelt couldn't immediately estimate the value of the damage, but said a 30-foot section of the warehouse wall needed replacing. There were more than 50 cars in the lot where the fire burned, he said.
The 911 call reporting the fire came at 11:38 p.m., but neighbors blocks away heard popping noises or saw the thick, black smoke.
"There was a huge fireball when we got here," said Patrick O'Donnell, of Remington Street, standing with an unidentified woman.
Richard Leon was taking out the garbage when he heard the sound.
"Boom, boom, boom, that's all I hear," he said.
"It's been here for a long time and nothing like this has ever happened," he added.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, preventing the propane and acetylene from igniting, Porzelt said.
"The guys did a great job," he said.
The fire follows a recent announcement by the city that the
Bootfinder towing program, in which Parisi participates, has
returned with strict standards. Under the program, cars with
outstanding taxes of $100 or more are towed.
Arson suspected in Bridgeport fire -
Topix
DANIEL TEPFER Article Last
Updated: 08/19/2008 04:26:28 PM EDT
http://www.connpost.com/ci_10245408
BRIDGEPORT — Police and fire officials are investigating the apparent overnight fire bombing of business that stores towed cars and trucks.
Many of the destroyed cars and trucks had been towed there, under a city contact, because the vehicle owners owe delinquent taxes to the city, according to sources.
The business, Connecticut Mustang at 5 Grant St., was heavily damaged last night when incendiary devices were tossed into the yard from several sides.
Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Porzelt confirmed that arson is suspected as the cause of the blaze that he said destroyed more than two dozen cars and trucks in the fenced yard, and also seriously damaged the building.
He said the cause remains under investigation by local police fire officials, as well as members of the State Fire Marshal's office at the scene today.
Police Lt. James Viadero also confirmed the fire is under investigation, but released few details.
According to Porzelt, the fire broke out at about 11:40 p.m. When firefighters arrived he said more than 20 cars and trucks in the facility's yards were fully ablaze.
He said the flames were so intense they burned through the building, damaging many auto parts stored on racks inside and destroying part of the building's roof.
"We were very lucky because there were acetylene torches and tanks stored inside and they could have exploded, causing serious injury," he said.
The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes.
Porzelt said there were no injuries.
Towed vehicles may have been torched
- Topix
DANIEL TEPFER Article Last
Updated: 08/20/2008 12:46:33 AM EDT
http://www.connpost.com/ci_10249790
(Phil Noel/Staff photographer)
BRIDGEPORT — More than two dozen vehicles were destroyed Monday night when an East Side company that has a city towing contract was firebombed.
The inferno at Connecticut Mustang LLC, 5 Grant St., also damaged vintage car parts stored on the premises.
There were no injuries.
Local police and members of the State Fire Marshal's Unit are investigating the fire.
A woman at the business Tuesday, who identified herself only as a senior employee, said most of the destroyed vehicles had been towed to the site after they were abandoned by their owners.
"It's overwhelming, somebody was trying to interrupt our business," she said. "We are going to let the police do their work and hopefully arrest the person who did this."
The woman said the company had previously been the victim of arson that the owners believe may have been caused by a competing towing firm. No arrest, however, was ever made.
Police sources said the company's video surveillance cameras recorded a masked man firebombing the lot full of vehicles shortly after 11:30 p.m. Monday.
Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Porzelt confirmed that arson is suspected as the cause of the blaze.
The fire also seriously damaged the Connecticut Mustang building.
He said the cause remains under investigation by local police and fire officials, as well as members of the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Police Lt. James Viadero also confirmed the fire is under investigation, but released few details.
According to Porzelt, the fire broke out about 11:40 p.m., and when firefighters arrived at the scene, more than 20 cars and trucks in the yard were fully ablaze.
He said the flames were so intense that they burned through the building, damaging many auto parts stored on racks inside and destroying part of the building's roof.
"We were very lucky because there were acetylene torches and tanks stored inside and they could have exploded, causing serious injury," he said.
The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes. The property includes a large building with sheet-metal siding and an adjacent fenced lot filled with cars and pickup trucks.
A number of burned-out vehicles were evident in the lot, and the side of the building was scorched by the fire.
The female employee said vintage Ford Mustang parts were
stored in the building.
Firebombing destroys cars at towing
firm - Topix