Akron fire official: Two separate commercial blazes started with vehicles
Akron firefighters tamed two commercial building fires this weekend, each apparently started by vehicles that combusted with no one around to explain how when first responders arrived.
There were no injuries reported in either blaze. And investigators are still searching for the owners of a vehicle abandoned at one incident, which a customer who called 911 found on fire in a car wash on Waterloo Road, a fire department official said.
The first incident occurred Saturday evening, shortly after the BMW of Akron dealership closed Saturday. The Akron Fire Department responded around 6:15 p.m. to a vehicle burning inside the automotive service garage area of the dealership, which is located where East Exchange and Cedar streets come together.
The second incident has investigators puzzled.
At 3 a.m. Sunday, engines from at least five Akron fire stations rushed to a drive-thru car wash and tire shop on the northeast corner of East Waterloo Road and Brown Street. The two businesses are connected by three self-serve car wash bays.
Inside one of the bays, Lt. Tim Morrison of the Akron Fire Department said, a car was found fully engulfed in flames.
“It was pretty well burned up,” Morrison said.
The flames were jumping from the vehicle up the wall to the roof when firefighters arrived, Morrison said. Firefighters had the flames knocked down by 3:20 a.m. The roof was opened to ensure the fire would not spread.
Morrison said the causes of both fires remain under investigation.
BMW of Akron and its owner, Jay Auto Group, were closed Sunday. The phone number listed online for Supreme Clean Car Wash on Waterloo Road is disconnected and the tire shop next door was also closed for business Sunday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron arson investigators in the Akron Fire Investigation unit at 330-375-2214.
Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Fires at BMW dealer, Waterloo car wash started with burning vehicles
