PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police have confirmed three of their marked vehicles caught fire this morning in the department’s Training Academy parking lot and the fire is considered suspicious.
“Those vehicles were fully engulfed in flames and it’s pretty safe to say those are going to be a total loss,” said Amanda Mueller with Pittsburgh Public Safety.
Mueller said the cars were intentionally ignited around 2:30 this morning outside the academy on North Lincoln Avenue on the North Side.
No one was injured and there was no damage to the building.
Police tell Channel 11 they plan to use privately owned surveillance cameras in the area to learn who set the fire and how.
Ed Menzer, owner of the nearby Parador Inn, said he’s disgusted by the destructive act.
“I respect the police,” he said. “They have a nasty job and I appreciate everything that they do, and to disrespect them, that’s just against my grain.”
According to Mueller, the department was not aware of any threat prior to this incident — but says officers will definitely take notice moving forward.
The Fire Investigation Unit and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.
#BREAKING THIS MORNING: 3 Pittsburgh Police cars caught fire behind the Police Academy on the North Side. PD says the fires are considered “suspicious.” A K-9 unit is now helping investigators determine if the fires were set intentionally. Live updates throughout the AM on @WPXI pic.twitter.com/M94oMY32yn
— Pete DeLuca WPXI (@PeteDeLucaTV) September 28, 2022
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