Suspicious Napkin Fire Damages Winn-Dixie On Curry Ford Road
Posted: 6:47 am EDT May 7, 2008Updated: 11:35 am EDT May 7, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fire filled an Orlando Winn-Dixie with smoke so thick that it was difficult for firefighters to find the flames Tuesday night. The fire caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
SLIDESHOW: Images From The Fire
Six employees were inside the Winn-Dixie on Curry Ford Road (see map) Tuesday night when the fire started. Arson investigators in Orlando said the early morning fire is suspicious for several reasons, the store was closed and the fire started on isle 14, the napkin section of the store."We have a rack of items in the grocery store that suspiciously been let off in the fire," said Chief Rob Ribenbark of the Orlando Fire Department.It wasn't a very big fire. The sprinkler system activated and prevented the flames from spreading, but the smoke was so thick it took firefighters longer than usual to find the point of origin."Had we not had the sprinkler system we could have seen a significant amount of fire. It was a very hot, progressive fire," Ribenbark added.Six employees were inside at the time of the fire. Two of them were treated on scene for minor smoke inhalation. The store manager declined to talk about the incident or whether or not his employees might have had something to do with it. He did state that surveillance video has been turned over to the Orlando Police Department.The manager of the store said he plans to have the store reopened Wednesday, but some obstacles stand in the way. He must first have the okay from the Department of Agriculture, replace the damaged inventory on the shelves and remove the rest of the smoke from the building.
Six employees were inside the Winn-Dixie on Curry Ford Road (see map) Tuesday night when the fire started. Arson investigators in Orlando said the early morning fire is suspicious for several reasons, the store was closed and the fire started on isle 14, the napkin section of the store."We have a rack of items in the grocery store that suspiciously been let off in the fire," said Chief Rob Ribenbark of the Orlando Fire Department.It wasn't a very big fire. The sprinkler system activated and prevented the flames from spreading, but the smoke was so thick it took firefighters longer than usual to find the point of origin."Had we not had the sprinkler system we could have seen a significant amount of fire. It was a very hot, progressive fire," Ribenbark added.Six employees were inside at the time of the fire. Two of them were treated on scene for minor smoke inhalation. The store manager declined to talk about the incident or whether or not his employees might have had something to do with it. He did state that surveillance video has been turned over to the Orlando Police Department.The manager of the store said he plans to have the store reopened Wednesday, but some obstacles stand in the way. He must first have the okay from the Department of Agriculture, replace the damaged inventory on the shelves and remove the rest of the smoke from the building.
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