Car fires reported at two Center Point businesses in possible arson cases

Photo courtesy of the Trussville Tribune.

Two car fires were reported on Tuesday, June 19 at two different businesses on Center Point Road. One of the business owners believes that the fires were started as an act of arson.

Brian Dunnavant, who owns Dunnavant Auto Clean on Center Point Road, said that his truck was burned on Tuesday night, causing massive damage. The fire from the truck parked near the shop singed the side of the building and burned the awning over the door some 15 feet from the truck. A security camera set up on the property captured smoke at 9:03 p.m.

Footage also captured images of what appears to be a man approximately 50 feet away from the camera. Dunnavant said that a figure could be seen peering from the other side of a fence where trucks are parked. He described the figure as light-skinned and wearing a reddish or crimson shirt.

Photo courtesy of the Trussville Tribune.

Center Point Wholesale Transmission, a business located approximately one mile from Dunnavant Auto Clean, experienced a similar incident in which a truck parked next to the building was apparently set fire to on the same night. The fire to this vehicle had also caused it severe damage.

Dunnavant said that the fire was set in the bed of his truck and that it was so hot that it almost burned a hole into the bed. The heat also caused the back window to blow out. He said that he had never experienced this kind of incident before during the shop’s 27-year presence in Center Point.

Dunnavant stated that he does not believe the fire to be vindictive and that it may have been a random act.