Feb 1, 2017 1 min read

Washington police said a fire early Wednesday that destroyed a small garage in Washington’s West End is suspicious and may have been deliberately set.

Fire Chief Linn Brookman said the garage in an alley between the 800 block of Ewing and Broad streets was already burned to the ground when firefighters arrived after getting the call at 12:43 a.m. Police said the fire damaged a garage and trailer at 865 Broad and the side of the house at 850 ½ Broad.

Neighbors reported the fire. One resident told police a truck with a white bed and dark cap was seen pulling up to the garage. A shadowy figure got out of the truck and walked toward the garage. The truck soon sped away and the fire was spotted a short time later, police said.

There appeared to be nothing in the building other than a few tires, Brookman said. Neighbors told police the owner’s son was using the building to store tires.

Brookman said he will call the state police fire marshal to investigate.