Investigators in Strathroy looking into whether fire that destroyed vacant store was deliberately set

Investigators are trying to determine whether a vacant commercial building destroyed in a fire in Strathroy was deliberately set.

Fire investigators in Strathroy are looking into whether a fire that destroyed a vacant store early Wednesday morning was deliberately set.

About 4:20 a.m. crews were called to Caradoc and English streets for a fire at the former Skoops variety store.

No one was in the building at the time, and no one was hurt in the fire.

Strathroy-Caradoc District Fire Chief Dale Stacey says the blaze was fully involved when crews arrived.

“We had flames coming out of the building, and heavy smoke in the area. We put on an aggressive exterior defensive attack on the building and got it knocked down. In the process we did have a couple walls and the roof also all collapsed on the building after we got here,” Stacey explained.

According to Stacey, the building is a write-off. There’s no damage estimate at this time. Strathroy-Caradoc Police, along with a fire investigator, are looking into what caused the fire.

“They’ll be looking to see if they hydro’s been turned off or on in the building, or gas and everything else. And look for any possible causes that may have caused it that way, or if it may have been deliberately set,” Stacey said.