Kiski Township vehicle fire could bring aggravated arson charges
Kiski Township emergency responders are working to recover a vehicle that was set on fire and pushed over a hillside this weekend near Hicks Hill Road.
Around midnight Saturday, Kiski Township police and firefighters, as well as multiple other fire departments, responded to a brush fire that took six hours to extinguish, according to Kiski police Chief Lee Bartolicius.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries while fighting the fire, Bartolicius said. Because of the injuries, he said, any charges will be elevated from arson to aggravated arson.
Police have not identified any suspects as part of the ongoing investigation.
It’s not believed anyone is inside the vehicle, according to Bartolicius.
The area is impassable for “typical equipment,” meaning police may bring in heavy equipment with a winch to haul the vehicle out of the ravine, Bartolicius said.
Police have discovered stolen vehicles near Hicks Hill Road in the past, and its relative isolation makes it a popular underage drinking spot, according to Bartolicius.
“Every summer, we deal with underage drinking, parties, trespassing issues — never to the extent of a vehicle being lit on fire and pushed over a hill,” Bartolicius said.
Jack Troy is a TribLive reporter covering business and health care. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in January 2024 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. He can be reached at
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