Investigators: Tacoma pet store fire was no accident
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TACOMA, Wash. -- Investigators say the Thursday night fire that could have killed dozens of animals at a Tacoma PetSmart was no accident.
The business was packed with people and pets Thursday at 6:20 p.m. when the fire broke out. Everyone, including a host of animals, made it safely out of the building.
Investigators spent much of Friday combing the area for clues about how -- and why -- the fire started. The fire marshal came to the conclusion the blaze was not accidental and has turned the investigation over to the Tacoma Police Department.
"Our investigator determined that there was enough evidence at the scene to call this a suspicious fire," said Joe Meincecke of the Tacoma Fire Department.
Investigators believe the fire started in the retail corner of the store, and employees say they saw dog beds in flames.
PetSmart customers were shocked to learn the fire was suspicious.
"That's not good," said customer Cathy Grinau. "Who would want to hurt animals? I don't understand that at all."
Staff members spent Friday canceling grooming appointments and turning away business as crews worked inside cleaning up smoke and water damage.
The only good news about the fire was that none of animals inside the store were hurt or killed.
"It involved a lot pets, different four- legged creatures, reptiles, birds, all kinds of things," Meincecke said.
Several cats from the Tacoma Humane Society were evacuated from the building, and eight dogs were rescued from the pet salon.
The reality of someone intentionally setting a fire inside a pet store has customers upset and outraged.
"Oh, that's very sad," said Lisa Haussler. "It really is. It's a pet store."
Investigators say the fire caused $35,000 in damages. The evacuated animals were moved to other PetSmart stores in the area, and the store hopes to be open for business by early next week.
The business was packed with people and pets Thursday at 6:20 p.m. when the fire broke out. Everyone, including a host of animals, made it safely out of the building.
Investigators spent much of Friday combing the area for clues about how -- and why -- the fire started. The fire marshal came to the conclusion the blaze was not accidental and has turned the investigation over to the Tacoma Police Department.
"Our investigator determined that there was enough evidence at the scene to call this a suspicious fire," said Joe Meincecke of the Tacoma Fire Department.
Investigators believe the fire started in the retail corner of the store, and employees say they saw dog beds in flames.
PetSmart customers were shocked to learn the fire was suspicious.
"That's not good," said customer Cathy Grinau. "Who would want to hurt animals? I don't understand that at all."
Staff members spent Friday canceling grooming appointments and turning away business as crews worked inside cleaning up smoke and water damage.
The only good news about the fire was that none of animals inside the store were hurt or killed.
"It involved a lot pets, different four- legged creatures, reptiles, birds, all kinds of things," Meincecke said.
Several cats from the Tacoma Humane Society were evacuated from the building, and eight dogs were rescued from the pet salon.
The reality of someone intentionally setting a fire inside a pet store has customers upset and outraged.
"Oh, that's very sad," said Lisa Haussler. "It really is. It's a pet store."
Investigators say the fire caused $35,000 in damages. The evacuated animals were moved to other PetSmart stores in the area, and the store hopes to be open for business by early next week.
We adopted 2 kitties from this petsmart. I am so glad no animals or humans were hurt.
This burns me up!
Not gonna express my feelings on who could do such a thing to these poor animals, mainly because I just can't put them into words. Just hope they catch the ass or asses responsible.
Disgruntled ex-employee? Recently fired?
I hope they catch the jackass that did this soon. You have to be a special kind of butt-hole to risk hurting innocent animals.
@alaska_dreamin Not only animals, but customers.  It's a special kind of sick to set a fire in an occupied building.
@stamperzann Very true, very true.
I said Oh Lord Jesus it's a fire!
This was not a boating accident...
Is the store equipped with video cameras? If so, I'd see who was in that corner of the store when the fire started.
@Tattooed_Angel2Â Lets just hope the authorities read your post.
@ReallyRUSerious Haha
PETA
@Grumpa or ALF.
@Grumpa ALF usually sets animals free to whatever fate awaits them in a foreign enviornment. Probably would have dumped the tropical fish into Lake Union and turned the tropical reptiles out into 40 degree nights.
A while ago they "liberated" a bunch of farm raised mink or chinchilla into the nearby woods. Within hours all were killed by local predators.