BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Vermont police are looking for a person who reportedly started a fire on Friday outside the office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. The small fire caused minor damage but no one was hurt.
Officials say an unidentified male suspect sprayed a possible accelerant on the office door, set it on fire, and ran away. They said the suspect remained at large and no reason had been determined.
“A significant fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule, blocking the exit of staff members who were working in the office and endangering their lives,” Burlington police said in a statement. “The sprinkler system then engaged and largely put out the fire.”
Earlier on the same day, the Burlington Fire Department said it reacted to a call Friday morning and found a fire between the vestibule, the elevator, and the entrance door of Sanders’ third-floor office in Burlington. The office door suffered moderate fire damage and much of the third floor sustained significant water damage. Sanders' office and nearby offices were evacuated.
A representative for Sanders did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sanders was not at the office.
