A Review of Recent Incidents Involving Dollar Stores

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GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA, POLICE SAY that a local teenager used a lighter to set a fire in a Dollar Tree store on January 2, shortly after 5 pm.  By 10 pm Todd Alexander Bryson, 16, was jailed under a $25,000 secured bond facing an arson-related charge.

The Gaston Gazette reported:

The two-alarm fire was reported about 5:24 p.m. Monday. It occurred in the aisle where potato chips and other snacks are displayed, according to Gaston County Assistant Fire Marshal Billy Glover. Police were able to arrest Bryson before he left (the shopping center). They said he probably set fire to just one item.

"There’s no indication of any reason he’d want to start the fire," said Sgt. Jimmy Arndt with Gastonia Police Department. Bryson was standing in the parking lot with his mother and some acquaintances when taken into custody, Arndt said.

Glover said combined damage will likely exceed $500,000 and could hit $1 million.

The building's sprinkler system helped contain the blaze, but there was still significant damage to both the structure and the merchandise, mainly from smoke and water damage.  Bryson was charged with felony arson and is subject to additional charges.

The store reopened on January 19 while Bryson was still in jail.

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WISH-TV IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA reported that two employees suffered smoke inhalation in a fire set by a customer trying to steal items from a Wayne Township Family Dollar store on January 9.

Firefighters were called to the store near Lynhurst Drive and Rockville Road just after 11:30 a.m. The first units arrived to find a small fire had already been extinguished by employees. They say it appears a would-be shoplifter set the fire as a distraction.

The suspect fled from the store but was identified on a surveillance tape.

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IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, A FIRE BROKE OUT in a Dollar General store around 2 pm on January 10.

Natchez Democrat

The Natchez Democrat reported:

"The manager said everybody was in the front of the store, and when he turned around he could see smoke coming from the back of the building," Natchez Fire Chief Oliver Stewart said.

Most of the fire damage was limited to the rear of the building, but Oliver said the exact point of origin for the fire had not been determined Tuesday afternoon. "They have an office in the rear, and it looks like it started in that office," Stewart said. "We are looking there."

The fire burned out the storeroom and caused some structural damage in that area.  The firewalls between the stores in the shopping center prevented the fire from spreading into the adjoining businesses.

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MONDAY JANUARY 16, A CAR inexplicably drove through the main entrance of a Van Nuys, California, 99¢ store.  Although the car plowed right into the main egress at 1 pm, there were no injuries.  Damages amounted to at least $5,000.99.

KCBS-TV ran this video report:

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A JONESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, TEEN WAS ARRESTED after setting a fire in a Dollar General store on January 14.  The blaze kept the firefighters on the scene for 12 hours as the building was gutted.  There was some extension into other stores in the shopping center, but none of them had major damage with most being able to reopen within 2-3 days.

A 16-yr.-old boy has been charged with the arson, but neither his identity or motive were disclosed by the police.

WGHP-TV has the details in this video report:

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This is a continuing series of fire / rescue incidents involving "dollar stores." Read previous Dollar Store Updates HERE.

It Has Been Several Months Since Our Last Update,
So Some Of These Incidents Date Back A Bit.

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GILROY, CALIFORNIA, FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED to the 99¢ Only store at 9 pm on May 25 for a fire with a sprinkler activation.  The Gilroy Patch reported:

Investigators suspect that an arsonist is to blame for a fire at the 99 Cents Only store on East 10th Street Wednesday night, according to Gilroy firefighter Heinz Maibaum.  "It’s still under investigation as to who started it, but it was a who," he said.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the suspected arsonist used a lighter from inside the store to ignite a row of plastic flowers displayed outside around 9 p.m., Maibaum said.  The building’s sprinkler system activated, helping to control the blaze while workers doused it with a fire extinguisher.

Gilroy 99¢ Only store (Google Street View)

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ON FRIDAY MAY 27 THE FAMILY DOLLAR STORE in downtown Alpine, Texas, was burned out by a fire that is believed to have started from an electrical problem just before midnight.

Daily Planet

The Alpine Daily Planet reported:

Most of the fire was concentrated on the right half of the building, where merchandise, shelving, roofing and flooring were a tangled, melted morass of black ash and sludge. The left half of the building suffered extensive smoke and water damage.

Brandon White, an Alpine contractor working for the owner, said he’d recommend that the building be torn down. He and a crew were busy Sunday morning finishing up the boarding-up process.

Daily Planet

In an update published on July 28 the Alpine Avalanche reported:

The fire that nearly gutted Alpine's Family Dollar store in late May has been ruled "undetermined" by the State Fire Marshal's Office, according to Alpine police Lt. Darrell Losoya.

Losoya, who helped insurance and state investigators comb through the debris, said Wednesday that the May 27 blaze burned from the outside in, but two state investigators didn't find any accelerants or specific wiring that may have ignited the fire. He said an arson-detection dog also found no evidence of accelerant.

The investigators sent the breaker box, the point of origin, to the State Fire Marshal's crime lab, which returned a finding of "undetermined," Losoya said.

Losoya, who has examined four fires in his capacity as the Alpine Police Department's chief investigator, said he and the other men had to "dig through spilled dog food – it was disgusting" inside the burned building.

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THE FAMILY DOLLAR STORE IN BARNEVELD, New York, was heavily damaged on June 1 when a fire broke out in a stock room around 8:30 pm.  When the first units arrived they found smoke showing on all sides and flames visible in the front windows and the eaves.

WKTV image

They had the fire knocked down by 9:20 and extinguished at 10:09.

WKTV Ch. 2 Utica filed this video report from the scene:

The Utica Observer-Dispatch has the STORY.

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THE TYLER, TEXAS, MORNING TELEGRAPH reported that a 14-year-old girl was accused of setting a fire at a Dollar General Store on June 15 and was ordered to be sent to a secure psychiatric facility in San Antonio.

The Kaufman County juvenile has been in the custody of Child Protective Services for five years, said Tracey Wolfe of Court Appointed Special Advocates on June 16.  "She has some good qualities, but she makes decisions not good for herself or others," Ms. Wolfe said at that first hearing.

The Tyler Fire Department extinguished the fire, which began near a display of toilet paper. A second alarm sounded as the first fire engine arrived on the scene, but firefighters were quickly able to control the fire.

The store was able to reopen for business.

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THE VALDOSTA, GEORGIA, FIRE DEPARTMENT was called to the Super Dollar store on July 5 around 6 pm.  A 6-yr.-old boy had snitched a lighter from a display near the cash register and proceeded to use it to set a rack of dresses on fire.  WCTV-TV reported:

"Some of the customers saw that dresses were on fire and that the fire was just getting bigger," says Michella Robinson, who was working at the register when the fire started. "And so one of the customers that was just coming in, he came in and grabbed the extinguisher from by the front door and he put the fire out."

No charges were filed against the boy's mother, but he will be enrolled in the Juvenile Fire Setter Program.

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This is a continuing series of fire incidents involving "dollar stores."  Read previous Dollar Store Updates HERE.

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Family Dollar Stores Recalls Remote Controlled Toy Tanks Due to Burn Hazard

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall by Family Dollar Stores, Inc. of the Authentic Heroes Target Practice Tank play set, a remote-controlled green toy tank attached by a cable to a grey battery-powered controller. The controller requires three AAA batteries to power the tank to move forward and backward and the tank turret to rotate and shoot projectiles. The controller is marked “Target Practice Tank Play Set.”

About 67,000 of the toy games have been recalled because the tank’s controller can overheat and melt, posing a burn hazard to consumers.  It was sold exclusively by Dollar Stores, Inc. and retailed for $5.

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A FAMILY DOLLAR STORE IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS, HAD A FIRE last Saturday morning (January 29) when an exhaust fan overheated and started a fire in a utility room.  The Beaumont Enterprise tells us:

Beaumont firefighters arrived at the smoke-filled store, at 1005 Washington Blvd., about 2 a.m. Saturday.

They could see the glow of a fire from inside the building, a Beaumont Fire Department press release states.

A vent fan in the store’s utility room apparently caused the blaze.

Fire damage was limited to the utility room. Elsewhere, there was smoke damage and water damage from a pipe that broke during the fire and flooded the store.

Beaumont Family Dollar Store  (Google Street View)

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IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, TWO JUVENILES went into a Family Dollar store and purchased some common household goods, then they went out to the parking lot and used their purchase to make two bottle bombs.  They placed one at the front entrance and the other outside a rear door, then they skedaddled.  A passerby saw them set the one at the front door and called the police.

By the time the police and the Springfield Fire Department arrived, the homemade bomb at the read went off.  The front of the store was taped off while the police deactivated the intact water bottle.

The “bombs” are a stunt a bit higher than a parlor trick where you put a piece of aluminum foil in a bottle of water and add some cleaning solution.  The chemical reaction causes a pressure build-up that eventually blows the bottle apart. 

There were no injuries, no damages, and no captures.  The Springfield News-Sun has the STORY.

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Dollar Store Updates is an irregular feature of Firegeezer.  For previous Dollar Store news CLICK HERE to view them or select Dollar Stores in the category sidebar box.

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ON DECEMBER 2 IN THE ROSELAND neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, the roof of a Family Dollar store suddenly collapsed around 6:20 pm while they were open for business.  Four people had to be taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  Fire officials believe that an accumulation of ice and water created enough weight to bring it down.

WGN-TV filed this video report from the scene:

Hat Tip:  William K.

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IN AFTON, WYOMING, THE STAR VALLEY INDEPENDENT reported:

The Afton Fire Department responded to a fire on the roof of Family Dollar on Saturday, Dec. 11. Afton Fire Chief Rodd Hillyard explained that snow slid onto a natural gas line causing it to break on top of the building. The line was connected to a heater on the building. Fire and water damage occurred on and around the vicinity of the broken line and heater.

The Dollar Store is in a building complex with Western Wyoming Community College and Subway. No damage was reported to the adjoining offices and businesses. Three trucks and 24 volunteer firefighters responded to the 9:48 a.m. emergency call.

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THE ENTIRE STOCK ROOM WAS BURNED OUT in the Princeton, Kentucky, Dollar General store on November 19.  The fire started outside of the rear of the store and spread into the stock room.  The Princeton Times Leader tells us:

The fire destroyed merchandise stored in the rear of the building, but the shelves of stock inside the store appear unscathed thanks to the efforts of Princeton Fire and Rescue.

“It could have been a lot worse, but this fire department did a fine job,” said Harold Peach, who owns the building and leases it to Dollar General. “The fire ruined the stock room completely; but as far as the frame of the building, it doesn’t seem to be hurt.”

Google Street View

Read the entire story HERE.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED from Mount Vernon, Washington, on December 9:

 Police say a suspicious package prompted the evacuation of businesses in a strip mall Thursday evening.  Lt. Chris Cammock says the package left outside the front door of the Dollar Tree store had wires sticking out of it.Police determined it contained shrapnel, wires and a battery but no detonating device.

Cammock tells the Skagit Valley Herald it was a “very good hoax device.”

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THE DOLLAR TREE ONLINE STORE is selling plastic fireman’s helmets for children by the case lot.

The price is $24.00 per case of 24 helmets.  That’s right, just $1 piece to supply fire helmets for the whole family.  CLICK HERE for more information and to order yours.

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Dollar Store Updates is a regular feature of Firegeezer.  Catch up on previous reports HERE.

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KAKE-TV CH. 10, WICHITA, KANSAS, REPORTED on Tuesday November 16:

Around 8:30 this morning, an employee of a business in the 2500 block of S. Southeast Drive found what appeared to be a grenade in the alley between the Dollar General store and the Sara Lee bakery.

Upon arrival, Wichita Police reported that the device appeared to be an altered or modified grenade with a wire sticking out of it and called the bomb squad.

Shortly before 10, the bomb squad took the device to the bomb range to detonate it.

Wichita Dollar General store on S. Southeast Dr.

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ALSO ON TUESDAY IN KANSAS, AN ELDERLY WOMAN accidentally drove her car through the front wall and door of a Dollar General store in Emporia.  The Emporia Gazette tells:

Gazette photographer Matt Bristow reported from the scene that the car was completely inside the store and had taken out some of the cinder block wall and glass doors.

No one was hurt in the accident.

Emporia Gazette

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A 2-ALARM FIRE IN THE WEST SIDE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, last Friday completely burned out a Dollar General store, leading to a roof collapse.

KTRK-TV reports:

Fire crews were there for about six hours on Friday and brought in heavy machinery to break through the metal siding and the roof to make sure the fire was completely out.

It grew into a two-alarm situation, but the fire was difficult to put out because of the store’s inventory that turned into what firefighters call a heavy fuel load. ”The Dollar General store was already stocked up for Christmas and had their decorations out; so yes, it was plenty of combustibles in there to heat up that steel,” Houston Fire Department District Fire Chief Roy Hamm said.

 No one was injured and the only three people inside the store escaped safely. 

No one was injured and the only three people inside the store escaped safely.

KTRK-TV Ch. 13 also filed this video report:

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Dollar Store Updates are a regular feature on Firegeezer.  You can review previous reports HERE.

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IN THE EARLY HOURS OF OCTOBER 7, THE MIAMI-DADE Fire Rescue Department was called out to the Family Dollar store on 94th Street.  When they arrived on the scene they found heavy smoke coming from the store.

After cutting through the burglar bars on the doors, they were able to get inside and put the fire out.  No other information was released on the fire.

WSVN-TV Ch. 7 carried the STORY.

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CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON, FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED to the Dollar Tree store parking lot on October 18 for a car fire.  They found a custom kit car burning at the rear end and put the fire out in just a few minutes.

Clark County Fire District #6 photo

The car was a 1964 Volkswagon that had a fiberglas kit body that looked like a classic MG sports car.  The 78-yr.-old owner said that he had just installed a new electric fuel pump on it and that is the area where the fire was centered.  He said that he had owned the car since 1978 and installed the kit body himself.

The Columbian quotes him:  

Howell, who was driving the car, said the MG had sentimental value.  “I had an MG TD in the Navy,” said the retired personnel manager for Boeing in Portland.

He said he thinks the car might have been worth $18,000.  “I will salvage a lot of parts,” he said. “That car will never be on the road again as a car.”

Read the STORY.

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CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, FIREFIGHTERS were called out to the Family Dollar store in Rosebud Plaza Tuesday night, October 26, when smoke was spotted coming from the roof.

WBOY-TV

WBOY-TV Ch. 12 tells us:

Dink Love was coming out of another store, and saw smoke pouring out of the roof of the Family Dollar store. He ran inside to alert employees and firefighters.

“I was coming out of Rite-Aid and I was standing out there and I smelled smoke, and I looked up the road there by the dollar store and I realized there was smoke coming out of the ceiling, so I went in to the dollar store and asked the ladies in there, told them that I think your guys’ building is on fire,” Love said.

Firefighters were on the scene at 8:45 and found only smoke in the roof area.  Clarksburg Fire Inspector Danny Hamrick believes that the fire was smoldering for a few hours before the smoke was noticed.

It originally appeared to be an electrical fire, but Hamrick ruled that out although a definite cause can’t be made.  There was no damage to any of the stores and power was restored to the Family Dollar and two other stores the next day.  WDTV Ch. 5 posted this video report:

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IN TORONTO, ONTARIO,  A 2-alarm fire ignited just before 4 a.m. Thursday October 14 at a dollar store at 101 Danforth Ave., near Broadview Ave., and spread to two other businesses.

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 IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, A HOMELESS MAN who was confined to a wheelchair was found on fire in the parking lot behind the Family Dollar store in Ormond Beach on October 19.  A Beach Patrol officer saw smoke coming from behind the store around 5 pm and went to investigate where he found the wheelchair burning with the man in it and a growing grass fire nearby.  After pulling the victim off the chair he called for the ambulance and then began giving him aid.

The Ormand Beach FD was already en route to that location responding to the grass fire that was later determined to have been accidentally started by the vicitm when he tossed a cigarette butt away.

The ambulance took him to the hospital and he was later transferred to a burn unit in critical condition.

Central Florida News has the STORY.

Review the archives of Dollar Store Updates HERE.

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A FAMILY DOLLAR STORE IN EAST POINT, GEORGIA, burned down Wednesday morning.  Police say it was an arson and the surveillance tapes show two men breaking out the front glass and lighting, then throwing “multiple” Molotov cocktails into the store.

WSB-TV

Despite the intensity of the fire, the firefighters were able to contain the fire to the Family Dollar store and prevent it from spreading to an adjoining super market.  The other stores in the shopping center received some smoke and water damages.

Atlanta Journal Constitution

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A DOLLAR GENERAL STORE IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, was severely damaged by a fire in the early morning hours of August 30.  Police say that the fire was intentionally set by burglars who were attempting to hide their crime.  The PD is not saying why they have determined that. 

The fire was discovered in a storage area in the rear of the store and it was burned out.  The fire had extended into the front of the store, but did not destroy the entire shop.  The fire was knocked down by the 45 firefighters in about an hour and a half.

WREG-TV has this video report on the fire:

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THE DOLLAR TREE STORE IN WATCHUNG, NEW JERSEY,  was slapped with a $56,000 fine by OSHA for violations of fire and workplace safety regulations.  The OSHA inspectors began investigating the store in July and were cited for failing to properly stack, block, interlock or limit the height of stored materials.  They were also cited for two serious violations with a penalty of $6,000 for failing to cover exposed electrical outlets, and failing to keep storage areas free of tripping and fire hazards. OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.

The Central Jersey Courier News has the full story and details HERE.

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A MAN WITH A HISTORY OF DRIVING PROBLEMS drove his car through the front windows of a Family Dollar store in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Thursday morning.  Police say that Brian Ross, 28, was high after ”huffing” from an aerosol can of computer keyboard cleaner when he crashed into the store at 7:30 am.

Drive-through shopper Brian Ross

In an interview with a WTAE-TV reporter, Ross explained what happened:

“I was looking down. I looked down for a minute. I thought my car was stopped, and I looked up, and the next thing I know, I ran into the building,” he said.

“Once I realized I wrecked, I got out and gave the owner of the store my car keys, because he didn’t want me leaving or going nowhere,” Ross said. “But then, when I seen the cops, I realized I didn’t have a driver’s license so I freaked out and I ran.”

The police also “seen” Ross running and chased him down.  They found the can in the back of his car and charged him with driving under a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence.  WTAE-TV filed this video report:

d

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A WAREHOUSE FOR A WHOLESALE SUPPLIER OF DOLLAR STORES burned down early Wednesday morning in Houston, Texas.  The massive blaze spread to an adjoining strip mall and destroyed several small businesses with it.

KIAH-TV Ch. 39 posted this video report:

Arson investigators are combing the debris to find the probable cause.  The fire was discovered by a passer-by around 5 am and the 3-alarm fire needed more than three hours to be knocked down.  One FF had a minor injury.  The entire warehouse was gutted.

The Houston Chronicle has the STORY.

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A 2-ALARM FIRE IN A BOISE, IDAHO, SHOPPING CENTER burned out a restaurant damaged a Family Dollar Store and a thrift shop.  All of the businesses shared a common  attic space. 

KTVB

The fire started shortly after 5:30 am and was quickly upgraded to a second.  No cause has been determined yet.

The Idaho Press-Tribune has the STORY.

KTVB-TV filed this video:

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A SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA, TEENAGER WAS ARRESTED Monday after he was caught trying to start a fire on the roof of a Dollar General Store during business hours.  Tyler William Hendricks, 19, is being held in the county jail on $100,000 bond after being charged with arson endangering persons, arson, risking catastrophe and criminal trespass, all felonies; and reckless endangerment, simple assault, and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors.

Hendricks

Three juveniles who were with Hendricks all told the police that it was him that tried twice to ignite a board on the roof using a lighter and a can of charcoal lighter fluid.  City police officer Stephen Bennick said the three juveniles stated that Hendricks started a fire. The Sunbury Fire Department was dispatched to the roof and discovered a charred wooden board, a red and black lighter and 32- ounce container of charcoal lighter fluid.

Bennick continued, “On the roof, Hendricks knocked out a board from a railing, soaked it with lighter fluid and used the lighter that was provided (by the other youth). After lighting the board, Hendricks threw the lighter fluid (to) an upper roof.

The Sunbury Daily Item has the FULL STORY.

Although only age 19, Hendricks already has a lengthy arrest record that goes back five years and is currently on probation for a previous offense.

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THE FAMILY DOLLAR STORE IN SOUTHPORT, NEW YORK near Elmira, had a fire Wednesday night when the sign on the front of the building erupted in flames around 8:45 pm.  All customers and employees were evacuated safely.  WETM-TV Ch. 18 has this video report:

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A FIRE IN DOWNTOWN RICHLAND, MISSOURI, Monday completely destroyed the Big Dollar Store as the roof collapsed and the back wall came down.  When the FD arrived on the scene they found the building filled with smoke, but no fire evident.  After opening up the back door they found the fire seated in the attic.  The roof had 3 inches of tarpaper on it that fed the fire and heavily involved the entire roof structure.

Pulaski County Daily

Neighboring fire departments sent units to assist with a total of 50 firefighters at the incident.

The Pulaski County Daily has the STORY.

The explosion was apparently centered in a hardware store and brought the roof down, collapsing the entire store into the basement.  The shopping strip housed five businesses including a dollar store, and an auto parts store.  The incident was elevated to two alarms and was fought with exterior master streams due to the instability of the entire shopping center.

WXYZ-TV has some early video that shows up following the weather report:

Arson investigators are on the scene now along with the haz-mat team.  No other information has been released yet.

The Dollar Store Conspiracy Club grudgingly commends the arsonist for his deceptive practice of destroying the dollar store by blowing up the neighboring business, thus deflecting any investigation efforts away from the true motive.