KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Suspicious fires destroyed three lumber yards in the last week in the Kansas City area, and authorities were trying to determine whether they are connected.
The latest blaze leveled the 123-year-old Schutte Lumber Co. in Kansas City early Sunday, and investigators said arson is suspected.
One day before that blaze erupted, firefighters confirmed arson was the cause of two fires that did $2 million worth of damage on the night of Oct. 6 and early Oct. 7 to lumber yards in Kearney and Mosby that are owned by the same family.
Fire Department spokesman Germane Friends said the Kansas City fire appeared to have started in at least two spots. ``There is speculation that this may be tied to the others,'' Friends said.
The Fire Department requested help from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the police department's bomb and arson squad.
Schutte operations manager Matt Brown said employees were asked to watch for anything suspicious after the two fires last week in Kearney and Mosby.
``But there are so many ways to gain entrance to a place like this because it's so open,'' Brown said.
Salesman Rick Tanner, who has worked at the Schutte yard for 26 years, stared Sunday at the charred lumber strewn throughout the 13-acre yard.
``I can't believe this,'' Tanner said. ``This is so very emotional for me because working here has been such a big part of my life for so many years.''
