Police Investigate Rash of Suspicious Vermont Fires

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont State Police are investigating a string of suspicious fires that took place Sunday in Addison County.

The fires started at about 2 p.m., when there were reports of a car fire in Middlebury and a burning hay bale near the Middlebury-Cornwall town line, said Fire Chief Richard Cole.

During the next hour, fires were reported in Weybridge, Cornwall and Bridport, including two houses, a trailer, a garage and another car.

``They were hitting us in all directions,'' said Addison firefighter Howard Grant.

Firefighters from Weybridge, Middlebury, Cornwall, Addison, New Haven and Bridport responded to the fires, Grant said.

The most extensive damage was done a the trailer in Cornwall, a house on Mountain Road in Bridport and a house in Weybridge.

No one was at home at the residences when the fires struck, Cole said.