Several vehicles, shed among items damaged in series of suspicious Savannah fires
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTGS) — The Savannah Fire Department said it is investigating a series of suspicious fires that took place in the downtown area overnight.
At 10:56 p.m., Wednesday, a person was seen leaving the area of the Visitor’s Center parking lot on Louisville Road, where a bus was apparently fully involved in flames.
Savannah Firefighters said they quickly extinguished the blaze. However, the adjacent vehicle sustained damage.
Crews were then dispatched to the 300 Block of Purse Street.
Reports claim they discovered a small fire on a porch railing.
A realtor’s sign had been set on fire and the flames extended to the railing. Firefighters extinguished the fire using a water can, reports confirmed.
A short while later, at 11:15 p.m., Savannah Firefighters were called back to the Visitor’s Center parking lot, where a tour van parked in an area near Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard was on fire.
The van fire extended to three cars that were parked nearby. Firefighters quickly extinguished both vehicles.
A GoFundMe has since been created to help replace the tour van. The funding page says that, "Local gem and owner of the “Freedom Trail” Black heritage tour, Johnnie Brown, suffered a devastating blow last night when his tour bus was torched and burned in a suspicious fire." You can read more by clicking here.
Three hours later, at 2:42 a.m., Thursday, December 2, Savannah Firefighters responded to a shed fire at West 36th and Jefferson Streets.
Fire investigators were called to the fire scenes and they launched investigations to determine the cause of each fire. The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) federal bureau is assisting SFD in the investigations.
There are no further details to release at this time.
Chief Minard is urging anyone with relevant information concerning these fires to call the arson hotline at 1-800-282-5804.
Stay with FOX28 for updates.
