Fire in south Charlotte Harris Teeter grocery store was deliberately set, officials say
Charlotte fire officials on Saturday said a two-alarm fire the night before in the Harris Teeter grocery store in Blakeney, south Charlotte, was deliberately set.
“The Charlotte Fire Investigation Task Force determined the fire to be incendiary in nature causing 20k in damages,” fire officials said on the social media site X.
Investigators didn’t disclose the type of incendiary device they believe was involved.
“The case remains open and active at this time,” department officials said.
Just before 9 p.m. Friday, firefighters responded to reports of a fire in the store in the 9700 block of Rea Road.
Everyone was evacuated safely, and no one was hurt, according to the department.
Sixty firefighters took 50 minutes to control the fire. Five fire trucks responded to the store, Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC reported.
Fire officials haven’t said how extensively the store was damaged.
According to N.C. General Statutes:
“Any person who willfully and maliciously damages any real or personal property of any kind or nature, being at the time occupied by another, by the use of any explosive or incendiary device or material is guilty of a felony punishable as a Class D felony.”
Class D felonies carry a standard sentence of four to 10 years and a maximum sentence of 17 years, according to Criminal Defense Lawyer.com.
This is a developing story.
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