Convenience Store Destroyed in Blaze

Authorities suspect arson may have been the cause of an early morning fire that destroyed a Santa Paula convenience store.

A man on his way to work about 2:26 a.m. Tuesday noticed the blaze at the Chhinas Central Market at 115 S. 11th St. and called for help, authorities said. The man, whom officials did not identify, told authorities he heard small explosions coming from inside the shop.

By the time Santa Paula firefighters arrived, the small store was fully engulfed in flames, authorities said.

The fire was extinguished about 3 a.m., but fire officials said the structure was a total loss. Damages to the store and its contents were estimated at $100,000, firefighters said.

The store was not open at the time, and no one was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Santa Paula Fire Capt. Dan Campos said “the suspicion is that it is arson-related.”