Arson suspected at construction site fires near Piedmont Fayette Hospital
ATL training center lead contractor targeted
Police reported to a fire at a construction site in Fayetteville. Early on, they said they believed it to be the work of arson. As it turns out, the equipment burned during the incident belongs to one of the lead contractors on the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - Fire scorched a construction site in Fayetteville. The flames broke out next to Piedmont Fayette Hospital on the west side of Highway 54, early Tuesday morning. Police call it an act of arson.
The equipment that was scorched belongs to Brasfield and Gorrie, one of the lead contractors on the controversial training center for Atlanta police and first responders. The company has been the target of some opponents of the training center, which protesters call "Cop City." Police are investigating if the fire is connected to the protests.
RELATED: 2 arrested in 'Cop City' protest at Midtown Atlanta construction site
Local, state and federal law enforcement partners are working together to collect evidence and investigate the incident.
Fayetteville Police and Fire are investigating fires at a construction site near Piedmont Fayette Hospital.
SKYFOX 5 flew over the construction site around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The door on the backhoe appears charred, the window broken. Fayetteville police say it’s one of several pieces of equipment set on fire at the construction site. Investigators say whoever is behind the damage lit the flames on purpose. "It is apparent that it is arson," said Capt. Austin Dunn with the Fayetteville Police Department.
The fire erupted just after 4 a.m. Tuesday at the site next to the hospital. Police say flames scorched equipment. Crews contained the fire at the site. No one was hurt. Who did it and why are unclear. "Any type of motive or affiliation to a group is not known at this time; it’s too early to make a call," Dunn said.
Brasfield and Gorrie is one of the lead contractors on the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center that now costs more than $100 million. FOX 5 asked police if the fire was connected to the protests. "We’re going to look into everything. We don’t know for certain at this point," Dunn said. "We’re not going to rule anything out until we know."
Fayetteville Police and Fire are investigating fires at a construction site near Piedmont Fayette Hospital.
Brasfield and Gorrie has been a lightning rod for protesters. In March, police arrested demonstrators who chained themselves to a crane in midtown. In January, activists locked themselves to equipment at another site in Midtown. Vandals targeted the company’s headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, in the spring of 2022.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Fayetteville Police Department at 770-461-4441 or Crime Stoppers at 404-631-4019.
This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.