Two car fires called suspicious

MAGNA — Fire investigators here and in West Valley City Wednesday were looking at whether a pair of early morning arson-caused car fires were related.

At 4:48 a.m. Wednesday, crews received a call of a car fire near 3300 South and 3300 West. Someone apparently poured gasoline over the top of the vehicle and lit it on fire, said West Valley Assistant Fire Chief Kris Romijn. A couple making their regular morning walk spotted the fire and called 911.

The fire was extinguished quickly and caused about $2,000 damage, Romijn said. No one was injured.

At 5:07 a.m., a second car fire was reported near 3750 South and 7200 West. That one also had gas poured on the vehicle and was ignited, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Wade Russell.

Now, both Russell and Romijm said their agencies were working jointly to find out if the fires were related.

"They're very similar," Romijn said. "It's a joint effort in the investigation."

Damage to the vehicle in the second fire was about $500, Russell said. Neither car owner told authorities they had been threatened lately, leading investigators to believe the incidents may have been random.

Anyone with information on the fires can call investigators at 840-4000.

— Pat Reavy