FORT SMITH (KFSM) - The Fort Smith Fire Marshal is investigating what's being called a "suspicious fire" that destroyed a Corvette in the 700 block of North 18th Street early Thursday morning (Mar. 12).
Battalion Chief Skip Mathews said the family found their 2000 Corvette convertible, which was parked in the front yard, on fire just before 2 a.m. and called 911.
"We had a full response coming [to the scene], but once the first pumper arrived they cancelled everybody else because the car was out in the yard they were able to handle the fire and get it extinguished," Mathews said.
The family told firefighters on scene that the car had not been driven in several days, if not weeks.
Once the fire was out, crews then began investigating how the fire could have started.
Mathews said it's evident that the fire started on the passenger's side of the car because that's where the most significant damage was done.
"Everything's just gone inside," Mathews said. "It's just completely destroyed."
He also said the fire was "suspicious in nature" and that the fire marshal would be picking up the investigation.
Officers with Fort Smith Police were also on scene with Mathews. Authorities said it's the second time they've been at the same home in the past two weeks. They were also out there several days ago, after the family reported the same Corvette that burned, and another truck parked in their driveway had both been shot. Officers re-examined the bullet hole under the driver's side door of the truck at the scene Thursday morning.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.