Fire outside Vermont U.S. senator’s office suspected to be arson

Police in Vermont are searching for a suspect suspected of setting a fire outside the office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Friday. The small fire caused minor damage but no injuries.

Authorities said an unidentified male suspect sprayed what they said was a possible accelerant on the office door, then set it on fire before fleeing. They said the suspect remains at large and a motive has yet to be determined.

“The fire engulfed the door and part of the front lobby, impeding the escape of staff working in the office and endangering their lives,” Burlington Police said in a statement.

“Then the sprinkler system came on and basically put the fire out.”

Earlier in the day, the Burlington Fire Department said it responded to a call Friday morning and discovered a fire in the front lobby, elevator and door of Sanders’ third-floor office in Burlington. The office door suffered moderate fire damage and much of the third floor suffered severe water damage. Sanders’ office and nearby offices were evacuated.

A spokesperson for Sanders did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sanders is out of the office.