Arson Is Suspected in Mall Blaze
Arson is suspected as the cause of a fire that forced the evacuation Monday of more than 200 people from the Carson Mall, county fire officials said.
No injuries were reported in the blaze, which broke out in a storage area of the J. C. Penney store at about 7:50 p.m. Preliminary estimates indicate up to $2 million in damage, fire officials said.
The mall, which was still open when the fire started, did not suffer significant structural damage, according to fire officials.
“It was a small fire that produced a lot of smoke,” said Fire Capt. Thomas Harp, adding that much of the damage was caused by smoke and water.
The Penney’s store, which has been closed since the fire, is scheduled to reopen this morning, store manager Mike Wiley said. Salable merchandise that was damaged will be marked down 50% to 70%, Wiley said.
James Corbett, assistant chief with the county Fire Department, said the blaze immediately set off the mall’s sprinklers, which held the fire in check until firefighters put it out 30 minutes later.
Corbett said the origin of the fire is suspicious: “It’s suspected to be arson.”
No arrests had been made.
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