A fire that torched a pickup truck and severely damaged a duplex in Dartmouth yesterday is being investigated by police as a suspected arson.
“The home owners are not co-operating with police and it is believed it is not a random incident,” said Halifax Regional Police spokesman Const. Brian Palmeter.
A man who said he lives inside the portion of home damaged by fire told Metro yesterday he did not know the reason why his $10,000 pickup truck was possibly set on fire.
Police and fire units responded to the blaze at 409 Spring Ave. where the truck was in flames.
The fire quickly spread to the residence, causing extensive damage to the side of the home, said Halifax regional fire divisional Chief Mike LeRue.
“There was some smoke and water damage,” he said.
“They had to pull some jip rock down from the ceiling to make sure that the fire was out up in the attic.”
Joseph Van de Kieft, who lives next door, said the fire was a close call for his five-year-old daughter Zoey.
“I could see the glow from the fire very bright in my daughter’s room, so I had to clear her out,” said Van de Kieft, adding he then grabbed his son and two dogs and went to his parents’ house.
Van de Kieft returned to his home yesterday to find his daughter’s window blown out, as well as damage to the roof, lawn and siding of his house.
