Victim of Fire Was Setting Blaze

The fire that damaged a National City clothing store in early September was set by its owner, who died in the blaze, fire investigators said Wednesday.

My-Hue Gager, 45, died of smoke inhalation after using gasoline to try to burn down M H Clothing Contractor in the 2400 block of Southport Way on Sept. 7 as part of an attempted insurance fraud, a National City police spokeswoman said.

Investigators from the National City fire and police departments and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms released the results of their investigation Wednesday.

An autopsy revealed gasoline on the body and clothing of Gager, who was found unconscious by firefighters, the spokeswoman said. Gasoline also was found at the fire’s point of origin, the spokeswoman said.

Gager’s business was failing badly and she tried to destroy the store to claim the insurance, the spokeswoman said. She was alone in the building about 11 p.m. and became trapped by the gasoline-fed flames, the spokeswoman said.