Insurer sues arson suspect over fire truck damage

A Vermont man already facing arson charges in two apartment house fires is being sued by the city of Rutland’s insurance company. The insurer maintains that the suspect, Robert Vandriel, is responsible for more than $50,000 in damage the blaze caused to the city fire truck.

Vandriel has pleaded innocent to setting the fires in May of 2005, which destroyed an apartment and badly damaged another building across the street.

Now the Vermont League of Cities and Towns Property and Casualty Insurance Fund has filed suit in Rutland Superior Court against Vandriel.

The lawsuit says Vandriel “negligently or intentionally” set the fires and that heat from them caused $56,168 in damage to a city fire truck. The insurance company paid the city that amount, minus a $500 deductible. It is seeking to recover its payment, plus interest and court costs.

The suit says heat from the fires damaged the city fleet’s largest ladder truck, Engine 1, melting seals on the front axles, breaking the windshield and another window and burning out its electronics.

The truck was out of commission for six weeks, and was repaired in Pennsylvania, where it was made.