$1.7M In National Guard Armored Vehicles Torched

Arson investigators are probing a suspicious fire that occurred early Tuesday morning at the Armed Forces National Guard Armory, leaving two armored vehicles valued at $1.7 million destroyed. "They appeared to be (total losses)," said Asheville Fire Department Battalion Chief Larry Morrow. "The fire was in the rear of both vehicles." The fire occurred shortly after 3 a.m. at the armory, 100 Minuteman Drive, north of Asheville. The armored multipurpose vehicles, used for transporting troops, are valued at $850,000 apiece, Morrow said.