JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four vehicles were set on fire in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Mandarin on Friday, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department crews responded about 9:18 p.m. to The One at Mandarin apartments and extinguished fires to a 2008 Ford Escape, a 1999 GMC Sierra, a 2021 Kia Forte and a 2006 Honda Civic, JSO said. Fire personnel told investigators they believed the fires were intentionally set.
The owners of the vehicles were not injured and each said they learned of the blazes when they saw emergency lights. The report notes the vehicles had been left unlocked.
“As soon as I opened by blinds, I see smoke coming out of my car. I see smoke coming out of the pickup truck next to mine,” Lissette Williams said.
A neighbor told investigators she saw two males, possibly teenagers, walking around the complex and recording the burning cars on their phones; she said she did not see them touch the vehicles, police said.
“You don’t see cars and trucks get on fire,” an anonymous neighbor said. “There must be a reason. I don’t know, it’s weird.”
Detectives said no suspects have been identified and no arrests were made. The sheriff’s office listed the case as not cleared and said patrol follow-up efforts were suspended. Total estimated loss from the vehicle arsons was $50,000.
JFRD District Fire Chief Aaron Bebernitz said Firefighters often encounter fires caused by arson, especially when it involves stolen vehicles.
“It’s often rare that we encounter vehicles that are being vandalized from the inside and being set on fire,” Bebernitz said.
He said flammable materials like carpet and plastic found inside vehicles combined with accelerants like gasoline and kerosene, are a dangerous mix when lit on fire.
“It can not only cause injury and certain death to themselves but also to surrounding people,” Bebernitz said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.