Police in Vermont are actively seeking a suspect who allegedly started a fire outside the office of US Senator Bernie Sanders on Friday. The incident occurred in Burlington, Vermont, where the small blaze caused minor damages but fortunately resulted in no injuries.
According to authorities, an unknown male suspect sprayed a possible accelerant on the office door, ignited it, and quickly fled the scene. As of now, the suspect remains at large, and investigators have not determined a motive for the arson.
Burlington police issued a statement describing the incident, noting that the fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule, posing a threat to the staff working in the office. Fortunately, the sprinkler system activated and largely extinguished the fire, preventing further damage.
Earlier reports from the Burlington Fire Department indicated that they responded to a call on Friday morning, discovering the fire located between the vestibule, elevator, and entrance door of Senator Sanders' third-floor office. While the office door sustained moderate fire damage, the third floor suffered significant water damage, leading to the evacuation of Sanders' office and nearby offices.
As of now, there has been no comment from Senator Sanders or his spokesperson regarding the incident. It's worth noting that Sanders was not present at the office during the time of the fire.
