Arsonist torches Virginia Dept. of Forestry truck in Franklin Co.

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is searching for whomever torched a truck the department had planned to use in Franklin County.

Investigators say someone set fire to the truck this past Saturday, September 12th. The truck was hauling a bulldozer that the department had planned to use during a prescribed burn this past Monday, September 14th on land near the intersection of Sontag Road and Goode Mountain Road. That’s about eight miles southeast of Rocky Mount.

According to a news release from the VDOF, agency workers had secured the truck at the burn site last Friday evening. Then on Saturday, the person who owns the land called them about the fire damage.

Investigators say the fire burned so hot, it melted the truck’s front two fires and everything in the cab. Officers with State Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

The VDOF plans to use trucks from neighboring counties until a replacement can be found to help with fighting any fires in Franklin County. The VDOF news release says, “This effectively lowers the response time and increases the threat to lives and property within the county.“

“This criminal act only endangers the people of Franklin County,” said Ed Stoots, VDOF’s regional forester for western Virginia. “Without the transport, we can’t get the fireplow to the scene of a wildland fire. People’s lives and their property are at risk.”

The VDOF has posted a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. If you have any information, call the Western Region VDOF office at (540) 387-5461.

VDOF picture of fire damage

VDOF picture of truck before fire damage