By TEREASA NIMS
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – Fire investigators are hoping that some of the samples sent to the Michigan State Police crime lab will help yield the cause of the Feb. 23 fire at Melvindale Market Liquor.
“It was a very suspicious fire,” said someone close to the investigation. “Many things don’t add up.”
Assistant Fire Chief Steve Densmore was not available to comment on the status of the investigation.
Dearborn Fire and Downriver Task Force agents are investigating the blaze that started just before midnight, Battalion Chief Andrew Lenaghan said. He said police discovered the fire when they were checking on a sounding alarm at the store.
On scene, firefighters saw heavy smoke pouring out of the business, 17973 Allen Road. But after firefighters cleared their way into the business and opened it up, the smoke rapidly increased and the fire grew, Lenaghan said.
Firefighters knocked down the fire in 20 minutes and cleared the scene about 90 minutes after they arrived. Lenaghan said the fire was contained to one side of the building.
The store sustained heavy smoke damage and is closed for now.
(Tereasa Nims can be reached at [email protected])