Fire at strip mall intentionally set

CREATED Oct. 5, 2012 - UPDATED: Oct. 5, 2012

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TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A fire broke out Friday morning near Speedway Boulevard and Craycroft Road, shutting down Speedway Boulevard for about 90 minutes.

Capt. Jeff Langejans with Tucson Fire tells KGUN9 that around 6 a.m., several calls were made to 911 reporting heavy smoke coming from the roof of a commercial strip center. Fire crews were dispatched and the first unit arrived on scene five minutes later. 

The crew in back found heavy fire around a roll-up door and confirmed that the fire was extending into the building. No occupants were inside at the time of the fire.

It took 23 firefighters 19 minutes to contain the fire and investigators have since determined that the fire was intentionally set.

Damages are estimated at $20,000 and the business will be closed for an undetermined amount of time for repairs.