Fire at Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office investigated as arson

A hearth at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office is being investigated as arson, the Burlington Fire Department stated Friday.

Firefighters had been dispatched Friday morning to the development that properties the unbiased senator’s handiest congressional office within the state. They discovered “a fire in the vestibule between the elevator and the entrance door to [Sanders’] office,” the hearth division stated in a news liberate.

Police in Burlington stated “an unknown male subject entered the vestibule” of Sanders’ office after which “sprayed an apparent accelerant on the entrance door.”

“He then lit the accelerant and fled,” the police remark stated. It additionally stated {that a} “significant fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule, impeding the egress of staff members who were working in the office and endangering their lives.”

There had been no reported accidents. The door to Sanders’ office was once broken by means of the hearth and different portions of the development had water harm.

The suspect has now not been apprehended, and there is not any recognized cause, in step with police.

“We are grateful to the Burlington Fire and Police Departments who responded immediately today to a fire incident that took place in our office building,” stated Sanders’ state director Kathryn Van Haste in a remark. “We are relieved that no one on our staff and, to our understanding, no one in the building was harmed.”

Van Haste stated that U.S. Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms are coordinating with native first responders.

The Burlington Fire Marshal’s office, Burlington Police Department and Vermont State Police are accomplishing a joint investigation.

A spokesperson for the state police didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Friday evening.

The suspected arson comes as Capitol Police recorded an uptick in danger review instances remaining 12 months. Police investigated greater than 8,000 instances — about 500 greater than the former 12 months — together with instances involving “concerning statements and direct threats,” in step with a January release.

Sanders, 82, is in his 3rd time period as senator. He prior to now served within the House for 16 years, and earlier than that was once mayor of Burlington, the place he lives together with his spouse.