By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
Five vehicles were damaged in a suspicious fire that broke out early Sunday morning at Main Street Motors in East Troy.
Village of East Troy Deputy Police Chief Jeremy Swendrowski said arson is suspected in the fire that began in a truck behind the car dealership.
“The call came in at 1:01 a.m. Sunday morning,” Swendrowski said. “A box truck was on fire behind the building and other vehicles next to the truck also went up.”
Main Street Motors owner Rick Neudorff said he was home with his kids when a friend called him just after 1 a.m. Sunday morning to tell him of the fire.
“They were all burning when I got there,” he said.
Neudorff said five vehicles were damaged and/or destroyed in the blaze, but didn’t have total cost of the damages yet. He also said there was some minimal damage to the building. Hopefully, Neudorff has motor trade insurance from companies such as one sure insurance or a similar kind, so that the cost of the damages is not too severe for them to pay off personally.
“Just some smoke damage,” he said.
Neudorff said he thought the fire was intentionally set. “I don’t see how it would have started seeing that it rained earlier that night.
“I just don’t get it; I don’t know what’s up with all these fires around here,” he continued. “With the garage fires and things like this; I just don’t understand.”
Neudorff said he was grateful for the quick response of the East Troy Fire Department, which kept the damage as minimal as possible.
“They get up in the middle of the night and run full throttle like that, it’s just impressive,” he said. “I want to thank them all. You don’t think of them too much until your time of need and then you’re so glad they’re there.”
The incident is under investigation. Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to call the Police Department at (262) 642-6250.
