Suspicious car fire on South Main Street in Rochester under investigation

On August 17th at approximately 2:20 a.m., the Rochester Fire Department was called to a vehicle fire at 398 S. Main St. in Rochester. The Rochester Fire Department arrived on scene to find the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. Firefighting efforts were initiated and the fire was immediately extinguished. Unfortunately, the vehicle was destroyed by the fire before the fire could be extinguished.

The vehicle belonged to Chalamiysh Alexander of Rochester.

As part of his assessment of the fire scene, Rochester Fire Chief Terry Covery contacted the Vermont Dept. of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit for assistance in determining the origin and cause of the fire. Members of that unit arrived at the scene and conducted an investigation. The vehicle was parked in the driveway of 398 S. Main St. awaiting repairs before it could be sold. Information was received indicating that a vehicle was seen driving up and down S. Main St. in Rochester setting off various fireworks while traveling down the roadway and in close proximity to the victim’s vehicle. The investigation determined that embers from the exploded fireworks were most likely the cause of the fire.

This fire remains under investigation and is considered suspicious.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Det. Sgt. James Wright at Royalton Barracks at 802-234-9933 or the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program (VATAP) hotline at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766).