Fire Department

This fire began as a result of boxes of merchandise being stored near a wall heater. The wall heater did not have a cover on it, and the heating element was completely exposed. The contents of the boxes were destroyed by the fire and were valued at approximately $500.

--PIO Cynthia Schuster

Firefighters responded to West Towne Mall after boxes of inventory caught fire inside one of the stores.

The fire occurred in a storage area of Go! Calendars, Toys, & Games, away from the retail floor. Employees caught the fire quickly and used an extinguisher to put it out just before firefighters arrived. Fire crews confirmed the fire was fully extinguished and set up a series of fans to ventilate the building.

A haze of smoke wafted into the mall, but it was not severe enough to prompt sprinkler activation, fire alarms, or an evacuation. Businesses remain open.

An investigator is on scene to confirm the cause of the fire. Damage estimates are not yet available.