RailNews

Two buildings at Amtrak’s Beech Grove, Ind., facility were destroyed in a mysterious fire early on the morning of May 2. Photo Courtesy of Indianapolis Fire Department.

Fire at Amtrak Beech Grove Shop Considered Arson

By Railfan & Railroad

BEECH GROVE, Ind. — Investigators in Indiana have said that a fire at Amtrak’s Beech Grove facility that destroyed two buildings earlier this month was most likely arson.

Area fire departments responded to a fire at the Beech Grove facility shortly after midnight on May 2. When they arrived, they found two storage buildings engulfed in flames. Due to a problem with the fire hydrants in the area, they were unable to get water on the fire for about 30 minutes.

Officials tell Fox 59 News that there were two separate fires in two separate buildings, suggesting that they were set on purpose. “We’re very confident that this was an intentionally set fire. Everything that we’ve looked at leads us in that direction,” said James Pierce, operations chief for the Beech Grove Fire Dept.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Amtrak Police are investigating the blaze.