TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — An early morning fire has shut down a Walmart supercenter that’s a major resource for Tucson’s east side.
On Monday, Tucson police confirmed they are investigating the blaze as an arson. No suspects have been identified, but detectives are working with the store to examine security footage.
People come to the Walmart at Speedway and Kolb for the things they need to live their lives. It’s a major source of jobs. But about 7 am a fire shut the place down.
Tucson Fire got the call a few minutes past seven.
Part of an aisle packed with paper products was on fire.
Firefighters blasted the blaze with water to drown it out and stayed on guard to be sure it would not re-kindle.
WALMART FIRE 🔥 At 7:03 Friday morning #TucsonFire responded to the Walmart at 7150 E. Speedway for calls of a fire. Crews from Station 16 were first on scene at 7:08 and reported nothing showing from the outside of the building.Once inside, employees directed crews to the back.. pic.twitter.com/uPEXsUU4SC
— Tucson Fire Department (@TucsonFireDept) December 24, 2021
The store was evacuated and shut down.
A Tucson Fire representative said active flames were in three or four aisles in the 7 a.m. hour. Crews stayed at the scene to clear the air inside the building and clean up hot spots.
According to Walmart spokesman Tyler Thomason, the store opened at 6 a.m. and was scheduled to close at 6 p.m.
A fire recovery company is already at the store. There was no time slated for the store to reopen. It was already scheduled to be closed Christmas Day.
Part of the uncertainty on reopening relates to when clean up can begin and how big a job it will be.
RELATED: Eastside Walmart closed by fire to partially reopen Friday morning
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