Construction equipment being used for the Meadowcreek Parkway was set on fire on Melbourne Road near the Charlottesville High School football field Tuesday night, according to an Albemarle County press release.
City fire personnel responded to the call at 9:56 pm and completed a preliminary investigation. After establishing that the fire was intentional and occurred in the county, City officials turned the investigation over to the County Fire Marshall.
County spokesperson Lee Catlin said it was still too early to know whether this act of vandalism was meant to protest the construction of the parkway, and the County Fire Marshall is now looking for more evidence with the help of the County Police and the FBI.
The damages total about $110,000 and include a destroyed backhoe as well as additional vandalism that Catlin refused to comment on further.