Multiple cars destroyed in fire at Fresno dealer. Arson is being investigated

Multiple vehicles were destroyed early Friday morning on the lot of a Ford dealer in Fresno and investigators are trying to determine whether the cause was arson.

The fire erupted about 2 a.m. at the Lithia Ford dealership at East Bullard Avenue and Highway 41. Vehicles destroyed included trucks and utility vans, according to Fresno Fire spokesman Shane Brown. Investigators are going over surveillance to determine what took place.

Brown said it was too soon to say for certain whether arson was the cause, and speculated that an electrical fire was also a possibility, because utility vans carry a large number of batteries.

This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 8:47 AM.