CLOTHING STORE FIRE DELIBERATE
A FIRE at a Cotton On store in central Launceston was deliberately lit.
Fire crews were called to the St Johns St building about 5.15pm on Wednesday.
Police say initial investigations suggest a quantity of clothing was set alight at the front of the building. The fire was quickly extinguished by the building’s in-built sprinkler system.
Staff members inside the building also helped to extinguish the blaze.
The fire forced the evacuation of the Cotton On store and the call centre on the floor above.
St Johns St between Paterson and Brisbane streets remained closed for several hours while fire crews remained on site.
One woman was taken to hospital as precaution because of shock.
A worker at a shop across the street said she saw smoke had been billowing from the store.
Fire crews remained on site into the night ventilating the building.