GRANITE QUARRY — Law enforcement and fire investigators are looking into two vehicle fires that occurred at the same Granite Quarry apartment complex a month apart. Rowan County Fire Investigator Deborah Horne said the cause of the fires is undetermined, but the investigation is ongoing. Todd Taylor, public information officer for the Granite Quarry-Faith Joint Police Authority, said he could not comment on whether investigators suspect arson.
The first fire was May 13 around midnight involving a 1993 Ford Escort that was parked near a carport at the complex. It had been parked there for a number of years. The vehicle was disabled and had not been operating, Taylor said. A neighbor alerted authorities to the fire, which destroyed the car. Horne said the fire began in the rear of the car.
The second fire occurred Wednesday, around midnight. There were two vehicles, a 1994 Mazda B3000 pickup that was destroyed and a 1977 Chevrolet Nova that was damaged. The two vehicles were parked under a carport at the apartment complex. The fire in the pickup started on the driver’s side. The fires were contained to the carport area, Horne said.
Taylor said a passerby alerted police in the Wednesday fire. An officer was talking to people in an unrelated matter in the area and was told about the fire. The vehicles belonged to different owners.
Rowan Fire Investigators Mark Troublefield and Brian Alley investigated both incidents and Horne investigated Wednesday’s fire.
“We worked with the Granite Quarry Police on the call and they are looking into it as well,” Horne said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Granite Quarry-Faith Joint Police Authority at 704-279-2952 or Rowan County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.