Police probe early-morning fire calls
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LARRY MAYER/Gazette Staff
Billings firefighters pick up fire hoses at 355 Phyllis Circle East shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. Several fire trucks and an ambulance were dispatched to the 10 unit apartment building for a fire alarm and a report of smoke in the building. Residents evacuated and some waited in a nearby police car. According to fire Battalion Chief Boyd Vopel, a vandal had sprayed a dry chemical fire extinguisher in the building and there was no fire.
Authorities responded to an apartment building on Phyllis Circle twice early Sunday morning after reports of suspicious fires.
At about 4 a.m., residents in the 10-unit building evacuated after a fire alarm was triggered when a vandal sprayed a dry chemical fire extinguisher in the building, according to the Billings Fire Department. No fire was found in the building at 355 Phyllis Circle.
Firefighters were called back to the same building at about 7 a.m. when a resident reported finding a smoldering newspaper in his vehicle parked outside. According to Deputy Fire Marshal Brett DiPasquale, the 1999 Ford Ranger sustained about $1,200 in damages. The vehicle was insured.
Police Sgt. Kevin Iffland said both incidents are under investigation. The first has been classified as a criminal mischief case, while the second is being viewed as arson.
Posted in Local on Monday, November 16, 2009 10:55 am | Tags: Fire, Arson
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