Arson At Hummer Dealership May Be Ecoterrorism
Showroom, Dozens Of Vehicles Destroyed
POSTED: 6:55 a.m. PDT August 22, 2003
UPDATED: 11:33 a.m. PDT August 22, 2003
WEST COVINA, Calif. -- Fire raged through a Hummer dealership in the Los Angeles area Friday morning, and graffiti spray-painted on many of the damaged vehicles indicated that the fire was set intentionally. Dozens of SUV's were vandalized at three other dealerships, prompting the FBI to investigate the incidents as acts of domestic terrorism.
Images: Dealership Fire
The fire broke out at Clippenger Chevrolet at 1900 E. Garvey Ave., just south of the Interstate 10 freeway in the Los Angeles suburb of West Covina. By the time firefighters arrived, the dealership warehouse was engulfed in flames and several expensive sport utility vehicles, including Hummer H2s, were burning in the outside lot. "With all the evidence ... its highly likely it's an arson fire," said Rick Genovese, fire marshal for West Covina. Firefighters had the blaze largely under control by about 6:30 a.m. There was no immediate estimate of the damage. Greene told NBC that the warehouse fire and the fire in the lot were separate fires. He reported that there were no injuries, but at one point firefighters did have to evacuate people from near to the building. "We have approximately 50 firefighters from LA County and West Covina," Greene said. Video from the helicopter of NBC 7/39's sister station in Los Angeles showed slogans spraypainted on the hoods and sides of several SUVs, including "I (heart) pollution," "Fat Lazy Americans" and "American Wastefulness. One vehicle had the letters "ELF" sprayed on a door. "We've asked for federal assistance from (the) FBI and ATF on the investigation of the fire," Greene said. On Aug. 1, a banner was found at an arson that destroyed a large apartment project in San Diego. The banner said, "If you build it, we will burn it. ELF." Investigators believe that ELF stands for Earth Liberation Front. The group describes itself on its Web site as an international underground movement that carries out actions against groups they believe are exploiting and destroying the environment. The group claims their cells have carried dozens of eco-attacks since 1997, resulting in more than $50 million in damage. Genovese said whoever set the fire at the dealership may have been trying to protest vehicles that pollute the air because of their poor fuel economy. But he said their approach was misguided because "hundreds of tons of pollutants" were released during the fire. The fire at the dealership is estimated to have caused more than $1 million damage. SUV's at three other dealerships in Arcadia, Duarte and Monrovia were also vandalized, though there were no other fires. Previous Stories:
Images: Dealership Fire
The fire broke out at Clippenger Chevrolet at 1900 E. Garvey Ave., just south of the Interstate 10 freeway in the Los Angeles suburb of West Covina. By the time firefighters arrived, the dealership warehouse was engulfed in flames and several expensive sport utility vehicles, including Hummer H2s, were burning in the outside lot. "With all the evidence ... its highly likely it's an arson fire," said Rick Genovese, fire marshal for West Covina. Firefighters had the blaze largely under control by about 6:30 a.m. There was no immediate estimate of the damage. Greene told NBC that the warehouse fire and the fire in the lot were separate fires. He reported that there were no injuries, but at one point firefighters did have to evacuate people from near to the building. "We have approximately 50 firefighters from LA County and West Covina," Greene said. Video from the helicopter of NBC 7/39's sister station in Los Angeles showed slogans spraypainted on the hoods and sides of several SUVs, including "I (heart) pollution," "Fat Lazy Americans" and "American Wastefulness. One vehicle had the letters "ELF" sprayed on a door. "We've asked for federal assistance from (the) FBI and ATF on the investigation of the fire," Greene said. On Aug. 1, a banner was found at an arson that destroyed a large apartment project in San Diego. The banner said, "If you build it, we will burn it. ELF." Investigators believe that ELF stands for Earth Liberation Front. The group describes itself on its Web site as an international underground movement that carries out actions against groups they believe are exploiting and destroying the environment. The group claims their cells have carried dozens of eco-attacks since 1997, resulting in more than $50 million in damage. Genovese said whoever set the fire at the dealership may have been trying to protest vehicles that pollute the air because of their poor fuel economy. But he said their approach was misguided because "hundreds of tons of pollutants" were released during the fire. The fire at the dealership is estimated to have caused more than $1 million damage. SUV's at three other dealerships in Arcadia, Duarte and Monrovia were also vandalized, though there were no other fires. Previous Stories:
- August 19, 2003: ELF Releases Statement On Apartment Arson
- August 5, 2003: Apartment Blaze Costs Millions More Than Thought
- August 4, 2003: Damage From University City Fire Put At $20M
- August 1, 2003: FBI: Huge Apartment Fire May Be Ecoterrorism
Copyright 2003 by NBCSandiego.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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