Fire at Boardman car dealership was an arson, police say

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Township police and fire officials are investigating a fire that started at a township business and residence Tuesday as an arson, according to a police report.

A family escaped from their apartment above DNM Autos, 5829 Market St., when smoke filled the building early Tuesday after a fire started in the basement of the building.

After the scene was cleared, township police returned because arson investigators reported that the fire was set intentionally, the report said.

Fire officials said the fire had two points of origin, one on the south side and another on the north side of the building.

Firefighters reported smelling gasoline near the north and south window wells, which investigators say are the points of the origin.

The owner of the business, who lives above it, said he could not think of any suspects who could have started the fire.

Detective Glenn Patton said township police are checking out several people who might be connected to the crime.

He said the people of interest are recent customers of the car dealership.

Fire officials also reported that they found two cars that had been spray-painted.

One car had the words “rip off” and the other had the words “con man” sprayed onto them.

The Vindicator’s news partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, reported Tuesday that the initial damage estimates are $50,000 for the structure and $20,000 in damage to the contents of the building.