Rochester Police Investigating Apparent Arson Fire at Home Depot
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester Police Department is investigating what appears to have been an arson fire at the Home Depot store in northwest Rochester.
A spokesperson for the Police Department says officers responded to the Home Depot location at 3050 41st St., Northwest just after 6 PM after receiving a report of a structure fire.
Before the fire was reported, witnesses reported seeing a man walking around the store filling a cart with merchandise. He was later spotted crouching down in the area of the store where the fire was started before he attempted to exit with cart full of items. The witnesses reported the man abandoned the cart and ran from the scene after he was confronted by a Home Depot employee.
A news release from the Rochester Fire Department says cardboard inside the building near the lumber door had been set on fire and the fire alarm was pulled to initiate in evacuation of the store. When the fire crews arrived, they found smoke showing from the rear of the building and an active fire in the racks. The news release indicates the fire was quickly knocked down with a water line, the building was searched for occupants, and was then ventilated to remove any hazardous gases.
The Police spokesperson says one person was evaluated by Mayo Clinic ambulance personnel for smoke inhalation, but did not require transport to the hospital.
The incident remains under investigation and it's unknown if the suspect has been identified or arrested.
More From 106.9 KROC-FM
