Author Topic: I-93 fires caused by a motorcycle (Read 3498 times)

PeteSC · « **on:** July 01, 2005, 01:51:51 AM »

I-93 fires caused by a motorcycle

By GORDON FRASER
Staff Writer
gfraser@citizen.com

NORTHFIELD — Vehicle failure, not arson, caused the 16 mysterious brush fires that broke out along the side of Interstate-93 several weeks ago, according to Forest Ranger Bryan Nowell.

"We did get a phone report of a motorcyclist having problems in the area," Nowell said. That motorcyclist's vehicle caused the 16 fires, he explained.

The blazes, all less than 100 by 200 feet, burned along the southbound lane of Interstate-93 on June 3. Their total area stretched across the Northfield-Canterbury town line, and several departments, including Canterbury and Tilton-Northfield, responded to the call.

Nowell explained that the fires initially seemed strange because of the wet weather that preceded them. But, he said, the unsuitability of conditions for an arsonist helped investigators to rule out foul play as a possible cause.

"It wasn't a good area to have a large arson event," he said.

He also said that the fires, once mapped, followed a pattern which indicated that a vehicle had started the blazes. "It occurred in quite a sequence," he went on.

Emergency personnel initially suspected that an arsonist caused the 16 fires because the blazes did not spread in a typical fan pattern, but that behavior may have been caused by the wet weather, Nowell said.

No charges will be filed against the motorcyclist, and the fires have been ruled accidental.

What was the bike doing...spewing flames or sparks from the exhaust?

jfudo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2005, 11:11:06 AM »

My money is on it being a Harley...with not just a normal oil leak, but a flaming oil leak.

tacoman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2005, 02:29:17 PM »

Its hard to say, it must be a dirt bike or dual sport. We had some bad fires here last year and it was blamed on a dirt bike. If you do any off road riding in summer make sure you have a spark arrestor.

scooter trash · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2005, 02:35:47 PM »

Sure right away blame it on the harley guys

PeteSC · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2005, 02:48:24 PM »

I would like to stress that I was not in the area, and smoking a cigar while riding my bike!

Since this was an interstate highway, I kind of doubt it was a dirt bike...or I think they'd be trying to arrest the culprit.

I can't even see a Harley spitting out that much stuff.
Since the bike started 16 different small fires, and people reported a bike having 'trouble', I wonder if it was some sort of bike pulling off on the shoulder repeatedly with carb or fuel problems?
"Wow, I'm setting the grass on fire....better get out of here!"

Uh...none of our guys tried to install a jet kit recently in that area....I hope.

mike · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2005, 06:12:00 PM »

That's the impression I get too... A possible fuel leak, then maybe a tossed cig ignited one.. maybe the wind picked up some coals as it burned and ingnited fumes of other spills as the dry grass coals blew downwind...

chippi · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2005, 09:18:11 PM »

jet kit......JET KIT..... we can use Jets YEAH THAT AWSOME!! Somebody send me a link

Sorry long day it was probably funnier in my head. I've been told on many occations I should just keep it to myself.

scooter trash · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2005, 07:48:13 AM »

One word, “ALIENS”.