Arson suspected in scrap yard fire

Saturday, April 08, 2006

By Lisa Medendorp

CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER=20

A suspicious fire early Friday at Sprague Auto Parts Inc. in = Muskegon=20 resulted in an estimated $150,000 damage to equipment owned by a = Kalamazoo=20 recycling firm.

Muskegon firefighters responded to the blaze at 81 S. Getty at = 4:47=20 a.m., and crews were at the scene for eight hours. A fire official = said it=20 appeared the fire was intentionally set.

Destroyed in the fire were a semitruck belonging to Kalamazoo = Metal=20 Recyclers Inc., and the trailer portion of the vehicle -- called a = flattener -- that was used to crush scrap cars, said Muskegon Fire = Inspector Scott Hemmelsbach.

The fire spread from the semitruck and flattener to "multiple = stacks of=20 crushed cars," Hemmelsbach said, estimating the number of crushed = vehicles=20 at more than 20.

Even though the gasoline tanks and catalytic converters were = removed=20 from the crushed vehicles, they contained plenty of combustibles,=20 including the seats and plastic interiors, he said. Also = extensively=20 damaged was a forklift tractor used to pick up vehicles and put = them in=20 the flattener.

In addition, windows were smashed out of another 133 scrap = vehicles at=20 the business owned by Thomas Sprague, Hemmelsbach said.

The fire inspector and a Muskegon police detective are working = on the=20 case. The fire was reported by a passerby, Hemmelsbach said, and = the first=20 unit on the scene found the gate to the scrap yard locked.

It appeared a portion of the fencing, however, was damaged to = gain=20 entry.

"We believe gasoline was poured on the semitractor," = Hemmelsbach said.=20

The fire proved difficult to extinguish. An undamaged forklift = tractor=20 was used to pry apart the crushed cars one by one, with = firefighters=20 extinguishing the flames of each vehicle while it was on the = forklift. In=20 the meantime, other firefighters poured water on the burning = stacks.



Arson suspected in scrap yard fire Saturday, April 08, 2006 By Lisa Medendorp CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER=20 A suspicious fire early Friday at Sprague Auto Parts Inc. in = Muskegon=20 resulted in an estimated $150,000 damage to equipment owned by a = Kalamazoo=20 recycling firm. Muskegon firefighters responded to the blaze at 81 S. Getty at = 4:47=20 a.m., and crews were at the scene for eight hours. A fire official = said it=20 appeared the fire was intentionally set. Destroyed in the fire were a semitruck belonging to Kalamazoo = Metal=20 Recyclers Inc., and the trailer portion of the vehicle -- called a = flattener -- that was used to crush scrap cars, said Muskegon Fire = Inspector Scott Hemmelsbach. The fire spread from the semitruck and flattener to "multiple = stacks of=20 crushed cars," Hemmelsbach said, estimating the number of crushed = vehicles=20 at more than 20. Even though the gasoline tanks and catalytic converters were = removed=20 from the crushed vehicles, they contained plenty of combustibles,=20 including the seats and plastic interiors, he said. Also = extensively=20 damaged was a forklift tractor used to pick up vehicles and put = them in=20 the flattener. In addition, windows were smashed out of another 133 scrap = vehicles at=20 the business owned by Thomas Sprague, Hemmelsbach said. The fire inspector and a Muskegon police detective are working = on the=20 case. The fire was reported by a passerby, Hemmelsbach said, and = the first=20 unit on the scene found the gate to the scrap yard locked. It appeared a portion of the fencing, however, was damaged to = gain=20 entry. "We believe gasoline was poured on the semitractor," = Hemmelsbach said.=20 The fire proved difficult to extinguish. An undamaged forklift = tractor=20 was used to pry apart the crushed cars one by one, with = firefighters=20 extinguishing the flames of each vehicle while it was on the = forklift. In=20 the meantime, other firefighters poured water on the burning = stacks. =A92006 Muskegon Chronicle =A9 2006 Michigan Live. All Rights=20 Reserved.