OXNARD : Thrift Store Fire Blamed on Arson

Someone deliberately burned down an Oxnard thrift store that raised money for developmentally disabled people, fire officials concluded Wednesday.

After a weeklong investigation that included using a trained dog to sniff out potential fire accelerants, the case was turned over to the Oxnard Police Department, said Oxnard Fire Capt. Brad Windsor.

But police officials late Wednesday would not comment on the case except to say that two detectives were working on the investigation.

The Retarded Citizens Thrift Store at 625 N. Oxnard Blvd. was gutted by fire on Sept. 14, minutes after a burglar alarm was activated inside the building, fire officials said.

Windsor said last week, however, that all of the money that was supposed to be inside the store was accounted for.

The president of the nonprofit Foundation for Retarded Citizens, which owns the Oxnard thrift store and another one in Ventura, said Wednesday that she could think of no reason anyone would want to burn down the building.

“It was probably just a random arson,” said Hazel Kay. “I don’t believe they picked on us for any reason. No one could profit from burning down our store.

“I really can’t believe that anyone in the community would have any animosity toward us, because it’s a noble enterprise we’re performing,” Kay said.

Property owner Martin V. Smith could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Kay said the association is committed to finding another building in Oxnard to house the thrift, which generated about $30,000 a month, if the building is not repaired.