Fire That Gutted Rug Store Was Arson, Authorities Say
A fire that destroyed a Persian rug business last week was deliberately set, authorities said Monday.
The pre-dawn blaze roared through the Orient Handel store at 2421 E. Coast Highway on Friday, causing about $2 million total damage to hundreds of imported rugs, according to owner Hashem Kermani. No one was in the store at the time.
Police and fire investigators declined to say how the fire was started, Police Sgt. Andy Gonis said.
During the two weeks before Friday’s blaze, another fire had been set at the store and its windows had been shot at in separate incidents, police said.
Investigators speculated that the incidents may be connected and are looking into several possible motives.
Kermani, who has operated the store at its Corona del Mar location for about 15 years, has said he does not know who made his business a target. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
Firefighters worked for several hours to extinguish the blaze last week, which was already burning through the roof when they arrived.
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