Starkville Fire Department is investigating a Saturday afternoon fire behind the Walmart in west Starkville as a possible arson.
Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough said SFD believes juveniles may have started the fire, due to surveillance video the department has reviewed.
“The surveillance video was pretty clear,” Yarbrough said. “We’re not saying too much because we’re trying to catch them. Hopefully we’ll get with the police department and get them picked up to at least talk to them and see what was going on.”
No one was hurt in fire, which was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. However, Yarbrough said 79 bundles of cardboard boxes behind the store were damaged or destroyed in the fire. He said Walmart reported them as being valued at $300-500 per bundle.
The fire also destroyed part of a fence between Walmart and an adjacent neighborhood and burned some grass.
“Had the fence not been there, then probably 15 to 20 minutes later, then (a nearby house) would have been in danger,” Yarbrough said.
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