A disgruntled former employee of a Jacksonville trucking company was severely injured today after he allegedly set fire to a semi after making what was thought to be a joke about “lighting the business up”.
Three Trucks Torched In Act Of Arson
Firefighters were called to Hale Intermodal at about 8:30 this morning and found three semis on fire.
According to company owner David Peppers, an employee who had been fired two years ago grabbed several oxygen-acetylene torches or tanks and brought them to one of the trucks and lit it on fire.
Former Employee Severely Burned
The flames ultimately engulfed three trucks and left the man who set the fire critically injured.
Peppers said that the employee made a comment about lighting the trucking company up yesterday, but the remark wasn’t taken seriously.
Peppers also said that he had been helping the former employee by feeding him, giving him a place to stay, and helping him to fill out disability paperwork.
It took about 25 to 30 minutes to put out the fire.
The fire is still under investigation. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is on scene along with the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Police are investigating a suspicious fire of a Trailer at 1900 Dahlia Road. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/RY5pV98jmW
— Bo Harris (@bofilmworks) August 23, 2016
Sources:
Action News Jax
The Florida Times-Union