Emergency responders in Kiski Township are undertaking a recovery operation for a vehicle that was set alight and pushed down a hillside in the vicinity of Hicks Hill Road.
The incident, which occurred around midnight on Saturday, prompted a response from Kiski Township police and firefighters in conjunction with several other fire departments. The blaze, which consumed six hours to extinguish, resulted in minor injuries for three firefighters. Consequently, the charges against the yet-to-be-identified suspects may be elevated from arson to aggravated arson.
According to Kiski Police Chief Lee Bartolicius, there is currently no indication of any occupants within the vehicle during the incident. He also mentioned that the location presents challenges for conventional equipment, hinting at the possibility of deploying heavy machinery equipped with a winch to retrieve the vehicle from the ravine.
Chief Bartolicius further highlighted that the area near Hicks Hill Road has a history of stolen vehicles being discovered. Its secluded nature also attracts underage drinking activities. However, he emphasized that the severity of setting a vehicle ablaze and pushing it down a slope was unprecedented in his experience.
