Investigators from Mission Fire Rescue Services and the Mission RCMP are on scene at the Mission Walmart today, April 16, after a fire broke out inside the store yesterday.
“We haven’t conducted the investigation yet but at this time we can’t rule out an intentionally set fire so we’re calling it suspicious,” explained Mission’s Assistant Fire Chief Ian Glasgow.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, reports came in about the blaze in the baby clothing section of the local department store.
Shoppers and staff were evacuated from the building and emergency crews arrived to battle the blaze.
“It was a fire that was contained to some building contents within Walmart,” said Glasgow. “The sprinkler system was set off and controlled the fire.”
Glasgow said firefighters had to contain several other hotspots inside, but overall the blaze was held to a small area.
Fire crews remained on scene for several hours after the fire was extinguished, to force the smoke out of the building.
While there is no estimate on the amount of damage, Glasgow said the store will be closed today. It is unknown at this time when Walmart will reopen.
