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Fires, vandalism, stolen signs concern Colonial Heights neighbors

Posted at 7:04 AM, Apr 07, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-07 10:48:49-04

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (WTVR) – Fire investigators are working to determine what caused three fires within 10 minutes early Monday morning in Colonial Heights. The first fire was reported about 12:09 a.m. at Foral M. Hill park.

“The fire damaged the trashcan and some plastic barriers for the playground mulch,” Colonial Heights Fire & EMS spokesman Lt. J. E. Boisseau said.

About 10 minutes later, fire crews were alerted to a vehicle fire at Hanover Ave. and Cambridge Pl. Around the same time, police discovered a traffic cone on fire on Royal Oak between Jefferson Ave and Washington Ave.

“All the fires were quickly extinguished,” Boisseau said. “An investigation could not find any accidental causes for the trashcan or traffic cone.  The vehicle fire cause is pending further investigation.”

News of Monday’s fires comes after some Colonial Heights business owners raised concerns over a recent spike in vandalism.

ColonialHeights 04In January, detectives arrested and charged three people with defacing signs, buildings and a police cruiser.

Investigators believe the three suspects could be involved in as many as 32 reported vandalism cases in Colonial Heights.

Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the Colonial Heights Fire Marshal’s Office 804-520-9376 or Chesterfield / Colonial Heights Crime Solvers at 804-748-1278.