Arson Blamed in Shopping Center Blaze

A fire that destroyed a Westminster shopping center early Wednesday morning was intentionally set, authorities said Friday.

“It was an arson, and it did originate in the Wai Wai supermarket,” Fire Chief Dwayne Scott said. “Flammable liquids were used to start it.”

Scott’s announcement about the origin of the blaze, which caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage to the six-unit commercial complex at 9121 Bolsa Ave., followed a two-day investigation by U.S. Treasury Department agents, assisted by local authorities.

The federal investigators were called in by Westminster officials, Scott said, because “they have a great deal more background in this type of case than our people.”

‘Real Digging’ Required

Scott said identifying possible suspects “may take some time. It will take some real digging and checking.”

The fire was first reported at 12:03 a.m. Wednesday and, Scott said, had been considered suspicious because “by the time the first units arrived, it was already going through the roof, which is pretty fast for normal building circumstances.”

Four stores, including the supermarket behind which the fire started, were destroyed and two others were heavily damaged, according to Scott.

One firefighter suffered minors injuries when a portion of a wall fell on him.