Police Seek Suspect in N.C. Walmart Fire

Nov. 2, 2013
A fire that started in a rack of jeans in a Hickory Wal-Mart store was apparently started by a man caught on surveillance cameras.

Nov. 02--HICKORY, N.C. -- Police are looking for a man they say set fire to a rack of clothes in Walmart, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

The fire started at the Walmart at 2525 U.S. 70 SE around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, said Lt. Philip Demas with the Hickory Police Department.

Surveillance cameras recorded a man walking around the store for about 30 minutes, Demas said. The man stood near a rack of Wrangler blue jeans in the men's clothing department for about two minutes and walked away. People in the store noticed the rack of jeans was on fire shortly after the man walked away. Management evacuated the store.

A customer and two employees used fire extinguishers to control the fire, said Terri Byers, fire education coordinator with the Hickory Fire Department. "Due to their quick actions, the fire was contained to the area where it was set," she said.

Hickory firefighters ensured the fire was extinguished and used fans to clear smoke from the store, Byers said. The fire did not activate the store's sprinkler system.

Randy Hargrove, Walmart spokesperson, said the company provides surveillance footage to local law enforcement agencies after such incidents and works with authorities to find the people responsible. He said the store reopened around 10 a.m. "We're back to serving customers," he said.

Police described the suspect as a tall, skinny white man. He was wearing a dark hoodie and baseball cap.

In addition to the Hickory police and fire departments, Catawba County EMS responded to the store.

No one was injured in the fire. An exact estimate of the cost of the damages was unavailable.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551 or the Hickory Fire Prevention Bureau at 828-323-7522 .

Copyright 2013 - Hickory Daily Record, N.C.

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