Police suspect arson in furniture warehouse fire
Police have begun an arson investigation following a holiday weekend fire at a warehouse used by a popular familyowned furniture and appliance store. The blaze at 479 King St. in Wallaceburg destroyed the building where Tom and Al’s Quality Furnishings keeps much of its products.
Firefighters responded to a call to the warehouse at about 7 a.m. Saturday, finding the fire had breached the building ’s roof.
Firefighters from Wallaceburg were joined by others from Chatham and Tupperville to help battle the blaze. An aerial truck was called in from Chatham. Police say they’re asking for the public’s help with the arson investigation.
Anyone who was walking or driving by the warehouse between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Saturday is asked to contact Const. Brad Hyatt of the department’s criminal investigations division.
There were no reported injuries from the fire, which was contained to the area where it began.
The furniture store is expected to reopen Wednesday, according to a Twitter message that read, in part: “Our family would like to thank the first responders during today’s fire. We are thankful that no one was hurt.”
Andy Fields a longtime furniture store employee said, “everybody’s doing what they have to do” to cope. He said there will be some delays in deliveries as suppliers are contacted.
“We’ll have to reorder some (product) that was in the warehouse waiting to go out,” Fields said. He said the company was still trying to determine its damage caused by the fire.
A teenager who watched the fire, along with other area residents, said at first he thought it was a nearby school building. There was so much smoke, it was difficult to see the flames at times, he said.
“There was smoke everywhere,” 15-year-old Brandon Medd said.
“It was just pitch black, the sky.”