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Early Morning Fire Guts Shopping Center Stores

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A fire gutted several stores in a Manhattan Beach shopping center early Monday, causing at least $500,000 in damage but no injuries. The cause of the blaze was still under investigation Monday evening, arson investigators said.

The burned businesses included a barber shop, travel agency, dry cleaner, tanning salon and psychic adviser. All the businesses were unoccupied when the fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m.

Part of the roof of the two-story office building caved in and the entire 8,000-square-foot building was damaged by smoke and water, Manhattan Beach Fire Capt. Steve Dale said.

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Because of the severe structural damage suffered, the building was condemned by building safety inspectors.

“It’s a flip of the coin whether it’s going to be a total write-off,” Dale added.

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