PUNTA GORDA, Toledo District, Thurs. Aug. 29, 2019– Two vehicles and a thatched building were destroyed by fire in Punta Gorda recently, and the Punta Gorda Fire Service and police who are investigating the incidents have declared that arson was the cause of those fires.

The PG Fire Service said that at about 12:30 Friday morning they were called to Periwinkle Street,  where they saw a yellow two-door car engulfed in flames.

Forty hours later, at about midnight Monday, the Punta Gorda Fire Service was called out to Front Street, where they saw a thatch-roofed structure, the Bamboo Chicken Restaurant, engulfed in flames. The fire service put out the flames quickly, successfully preventing the blaze from spreading to other structures in the area.

At about midnight last night, the PG Fire Service was again called out, this time to Far West Street, where they saw the left side of a Mazda Tribute SUV engulfed in flames. They quickly put out the fire, preventing the vehicle from being totally destroyed.

This is not the first time in recent months that a serial arsonist has gone on the rampage in Punta Gorda. In January 2016, two vehicles, a restaurant with a thatched roof, and a house were burned. Police launched an investigation and were looking for a man who they believed was responsible for the crimes, but so far their investigations have led to no arrests.

On February 7, 2019, we reported that two vehicles had been set on fire in Punta Gorda. We are not aware of anyone being arrested for these crimes.