Arson blamed for Walmart fire
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/06/2024 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Brandon Walmart remains closed after fire damaged the store early Friday morning in what officials are calling an act of arson.
“This appears to be a criminal act of arson that will unfortunately and unfairly impact our customers, associates and the local community who rely on the store,” Walmart corporate affairs manager Felicia Fefer said Friday.
Around 12:30 a.m., Brandon Fire and Emergency Services sent a crew of 10 members to the Walmart store in the Corral Centre and extinguished the fire by 4 a.m.
Crews begin work to clean up after an early-morning fire was set outside the Walmart store in Brandon’s Corral Centre on Friday. (Photos by Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Police say a group of Adirondack chairs at the front of the store were set on fire and the blaze spread to the building.
No injuries were reported, BFES fire captain Rob Brown told the Sun. He said most of the damage was to the front entrance of the building, though there was also significant smoke and water damage.
Brandon Police Service public information officer Janet Reichert told the Sun that police believe a lighter was used to set the chairs on fire.
At the time of publication, police had not made any arrests in connection with the fire, though officers were working to obtain video surveillance footage.
A spokesperson for the province said the Officer of the Fire Commissioner’s investigation has been completed and confirmed that the cause of the fire was “incendiary.” They declined to comment on the extent of the damage.
Scorched glass doors and burnt rubble mark the entrance of Brandon’s Walmart store on Friday.
An employee at the store said he didn’t know when it would be opening again, but said the garden centre will reopen today.
Fefer did not provide a date when the store would reopen.
“The store is currently closed as we carry out the necessary cleanup and repairs resulting from the arson,” she said.
“The store will reopen as soon as possible while we work with officials to ensure the store is safe and up to the standards our customers expect and deserve.”
Fefer did not say whether the store had video surveillance of the incident but said the company is “co-operating fully with the police investigation.”
Asked whether employees will be compensated while the store is closed, she said: “Walmart will support our associates while the store is closed.”
An employee at the store said its pharmacy services are being run through the Portage la Prairie location and can be reached by calling 431-210-2026.
» gmortfield@brandonsun.com
» X: @geena_mortfield
