Two vehicles damaged by the fire Monday morning on Douglas Street in Fayetteville
All photos: Adam Zorzin
Three vehicles, including one belonging to Arkansas starting quarterback Brandon Allen, were reportedly set on fire in Fayetteville early Monday morning.
Firefighters responded to the first fire at around 1:30 a.m., where a Chevrolet Avalanche and a nearby Toyota Prius had been set ablaze outside an apartment complex at the 700 block of Douglas Street in Fayetteville. Later that night, Allen’s vehicle, also a Chevrolet Avalanche, was set ablaze at his apartment on Hendrix Street just before 4 a.m.
Photo of the fire on Douglas Street
Adam Zorzin
Fayetteville police are investigating the fires as suspected arson cases, though police told KNWA Monday it was too early to tell if the two cases were related.
Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema, in his regularly scheduled press conference on Monday, said he was hopeful that the fire was not related to Allen’s position on the football team. Bielema placed Brandon, and his brother and backup quarterback Austin Allen, off limits to the media to avoid distraction leading up to the Razorbacks season-opening game against Auburn on Saturday.
Fayetteville Police Sgt. Craig Stout told KFSM that investigators believe the trucks were intentionally set on fire.
“Maybe these people had a mutual friend or enemy,” Stout said.
