Exactly a week after fire destroyed a foreclosed home in West Sedona, fire destroyed a car and a garage just two doors away.
Sedona Fire District and the Sedona Police Department were still conducting an arson investigation at 200 El Camino Road after two fires, Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, destroyed the vacant home, when SFD received a call just after midnight Friday, Oct. 17, for 140 El Camino Road.
A 528-square-foot garage was destroyed along with a 2004 Cadillac SRX parked in the garage. SFD Fire Marshal Will Loesche estimated the damage at $75,000.
By Alison Ecklund
Larson Newspapers
Exactly a week after fire destroyed a foreclosed home in West Sedona, fire destroyed a car and a garage just two doors away.
Sedona Fire District and the Sedona Police Department were still conducting an arson investigation at 200 El Camino Road after two fires, Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, destroyed the vacant home, when SFD received a call just after midnight Friday, Oct. 17, for 140 El Camino Road.
A 528-square-foot garage was destroyed along with a 2004 Cadillac SRX parked in the garage. SFD Fire Marshal Will Loesche estimated the damage at $75,000.
SFD received the call around 12:30 a.m. from SPD Sgt. Walter Spokes who was on patrol in the Foothills South area.
Spokes was first on scene and found the detached garage totally involved, Loesche said. Fire crews from Stations No. 1, 4 and 5 responded.
Water was on the fire by 12:40 a.m., and it was declared knocked down at 12:55 a.m. Loss to fire was stopped at 1:11 a.m.
The house was left untouched by flames and first appeared to fire investigators to be empty.
Cindy Patterson, the homeowner, arrived on scene Saturday, Oct. 18, around 11 a.m.
Patterson slept at the mobile home park she owns in Cottonwood Friday night, but she is living at her residence on El Camino Road, she told SFD.
According to Loesche, both the car and the home were insured.
Although he estimates the damage at $75,000, that might not be close to the actual insurance settlement, Loesche said.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this point.
“It’s under suspicious circumstances because of the other fire,” Loesche said.
No correlation has been found between the two fires, but investigators are pursuing a possible link, he said.
The vacant home — two doors down at 200 El Camino Road — foreclosed in June and is owned by ING bank. The second floor was destroyed by fire Oct. 10, and the rest of the house Oct. 12.
Patterson could not be reached by press time.
Car Fire: Monday, Oct. 20
A 1971 Mercedes Benz 280 SL burst into flames when a battery charger connected to the car malfunctioned Monday, Oct. 20.
SFD received a call at 7:27 p.m. for a car fire at 1520 Verde Valley School Road.
The car belonged to C. Jeffrey Hughes and was under a car tarp in the driveway.
Initial investigation points to the battery charger, which was on top of a stack of wooden pallets, Loesche said.
Hughes’ neighbor, Eli Michael Sheridan, heard the car alarm and found the car engulfed in flames.
According to Loesche, Sheridan ran across the street and put a garden hose on the fire, which stopped it from spreading until the fire crews arrived. SFD Station No. 3 handled the call.
The car was totally destroyed.
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail
aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com.
