Caroline Silva
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(TNS)
A fire was intentionally set inside a Target store in Buckhead on Monday evening, leading to evacuations and a temporary closure, officials said.
Crews were called to the department store along Piedmont Road in the Lindbergh area shortly after 5 p.m. and discovered the blaze in the bedding section on the first floor, fire officials confirmed. Investigators said they believe someone “intentionally” set the fire to create a distraction, allowing the offender to shoplift and escape as customers rushed to exit the building.
Target spokesman Brian Harper-Tibaldo said that all customers and employees made it out safely. Three employees were evaluated for injuries and smoke inhalation, but ultimately no one was injured, the fire department said.
The flames were extinguished in about 30 minutes and crews said they then began working to ventilate “the extremely heavy smoke conditions inside of the store.”
On Tuesday morning, employees continued working to clean up the store, which shares a plaza with several other businesses, including Best Buy and Home Depot.
“We’re working to understand the extent of the damage, but we expect the store to be closed for an undetermined amount of time,” Harper-Tibaldo said.
Monday’s fire is not the only case in which officials are trying to make an arrest. Recent fires at Walmart stores located at 835 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and 1801 Howell Mill Road are also being investigated as arsons, the fire department confirmed.
According to Channel 2 Action News, the Howell Mill store went up in flames in December after someone set fire to the men’s clothing section. That store has permanently closed.
The Vine City store on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive also caught on fire in December, Channel 2 reported. It temporarily closed, but Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced Monday that it will reopen.
“Food and nutrition security for Atlanta families is a moral right for our communities,” Dickens said. “The intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard is a nexus of multiple northwest and southwest Atlanta communities with seniors, children, students and thousands of individuals and households who already lack accessible options for fresh, affordable food.”
In all three cases, authorities said they believe the fires were intentionally set to allow the suspects to shoplift.
“These fires have resulted in millions of dollars in damage,” fire officials said. “Although the motive for the fires appears to be the same, investigators have not linked the fires.”
Anyone who helps identify the suspects responsible is eligible for up to a $10,000 reward after arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Arson Control Hotline at 800-282-5804.
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