by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
The Albuquerque Fire Department is investigating the burning of 10 to 12 vehicles in neighborhoods around UNM that caught fire Friday morning, said Patrick Baca, spokesman for the
department.
Baca said the cause of the fires is under investigation by the arson division.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The burned vehicles are probably worthless, he said.
"The cars that catch on fire are a total loss," he said. "In my experience, once a car burns up, it's pretty much done."
Lawrence Martinez said he will not replace his 1988 Chevrolet Corvette that was reduced to ashes after being set on fire.
"I got more than it was worth out of it," he said. "It was just a fun car."
His Dodge Ram was parked near the Corvette and was damaged on the passenger's side.
The fires were near Lomas and Carlisle boulevards, he said.
Baca said the first fire was reported Friday morning at 2:55 a.m. and the last one was reported about 4 a.m.
Martinez and his neighbor, George Padilla, had vehicles that were set on fire in their driveways on Broadmoor Avenue, south of Lomas Boulevard.
Padilla said he lost his Jeep Wagoneer to flames, and his Mercury Mystique that was parked next to it was damaged as well.
Padilla said he is angry about the incident, but he is trying not to worry about it happening again.
"I don't want to tie someone to the bumper and drag them down the street," he said. "I can sit out there all night with a shotgun and aim at everyone that walks by, but what good is that
going to do?"
Martinez had gone to bed about 2:30 a.m. when he noticed flickering orange light coming through his windows. He said he figured he forgot to turn off his Halloween decorations.
When he went outside to turn them off, he saw his Corvette engulfed in flames that almost ignited branches of a tree near his driveway.
Martinez went inside and dialed 911 and was put on hold because operators were already responding to car fires that were reported earlier, he said.
Padilla said it wasn't a random act of Halloween vandalism such as throwing eggs at a home.
"The more you think about it, it would have to be some kind of a statement made," he said. "If it was just kids, it wouldn't be this organized."
Martinez and Padilla said they don't feel any less safe in their neighborhood.
It wasn't the worst thing that could have happened, Padilla said.
"At least it wasn't guns," he said. "I'm fortunate. At least it was just a firebomb, and no one got shot or killed or houses burned down."
Martinez said he has full coverage, but he will lose money. He said he has to pay half the cost of a rental vehicle until his truck gets fixed.
Padilla said he will also lose money because of the fires, despite having full coverage on both vehicles.
"You still got to eat the deductible, and that's pretty steep," he said. "That's the game I guess."
