May 16, 2000 RELEASE # (SH100025) Additional Information: R. Steve Huffman, Public Information Officer Ofc: 208-5806 ARSON SUSPECTED IN FIRES AT AREA K-MART STORE Mobile Fire-Rescue Department Investigators are investigating three small fires at the K-Mart Store, located at 3930 Airport Blvd as possible Arson. The first two fires were reported at approximately 9:44 p.m. on Monday evening, May 15, 2000. Mobile firefighters arrived at approximately 9:49 p.m. and discovered a small fire in a rear storage area of the store. A sprinkler head just above the fire was activated by the heat from the fire and extinguished it before firefighters arrived. Another small fire was attempted in a trash container located in an employee break room but never actually caught fire but instead smothered creating only smoke. Both fires were contained and confined to their area of origins. Engines 23, 18, 19, truck 5, rescue 18 and District 3 Chief Bill Glisson responded. Firefighters were called to return to the same K-Mart at approximately 1:13 a.m. on Tuesday morning, May 16, 2000, when employees cleaning up from the previous fires discovered another fire in the garden center of the store. The fire appears to have originated in a stack of lawn furniture cushions on a rack against the wall. Once again a single sprinkler head was set off extinguishing the fire. No damage estimate is available at this time but there was some minor water damage and varying degrees of smoke damage throughout. No injuries were reported. Engines 22, 18, 23, truck 5, rescue 18 and District 3 Chief Bill Glisson responded. Both fires remain under investigation by the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department’s Bureau of Fire Prevention. Anyone with information should call that office at 208-7484 or Crimestoppers at 208-7000. ###