ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Police Department is seeking information on a July vehicle fire that was started by an ignition device, an Aug. 22 department Facebook post said. An investigation into the incident determined a “most likely Mototov cocktail-type device” was used to start the fire.

First responders were called to 1215 6th Ave. at 9:21 a.m. on July 27 for a car fire and RPD officers on scene reported the fire to be fully involved. The fire was in the engine compartment and the windshield area at the front of the vehicle and was quickly extinguished. The entire engine compartment of the vehicle burned. There were no injuries to anyone involved and no other cars or dwellings were impacted. The vehicle was a total loss. 

“There were some witnesses that said there was a bottle by the front tire full of an unknown liquid and that was where the flames came from that ultimately engulfed the whole car,” RPD Deputy Chief Phil Frankenberry said in the days that followed the fire. “At this time we don't believe it was an overheating of the car causing the fire because it had been parked there for a while.”

The state fire marshal conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Any information about the incident can be relayed to the RPD or Detective Sgt. Haan at (815) 562-2131 or Ogle-Lee Crime Stoppers at (888) 228-4488.