Fairmount fire called suspicious

The Independence Fire Department has initially determined a fire that destroyed a portion of a Fairmount strip mall as suspicious.

But they haven’t classified the fire as arson at this point, assistant fire chief John Greene said Friday.

The chief fire investigator and Police Department arson investigators are looking into the fire and should officially determine if it was arson next week.

Around 3 a.m. Friday, firefighters responded to a structure fire at 10202 E. U.S. 24 in northwest Independence. The last section of the strip mall caught fire, damaging contents that were stored in the inhabited section.

Firefighters extinguished the flames before the conjoining stores also caught fire. The fire didn’t completely destroy contents in the affected area. It appeared the area was used to store numerous clothing and furniture and used durable goods.

Neighbors saw flames shooting out of the inside windows and heavy smoke billowing from the roof.

One neighbor, who didn’t want to be identified, speculated there was a landlord/tenant dispute involving the building.

The Rev. John Doney, pastor at God’s Family Ministries at 10204 E. U.S. 24, which was next door to the burned business, said the combined charity store and church sustained heavy smoke damage. However, there was no water or extensive fire damage.

“We were very fortunate,” Doney said.

The Independence Health Department posted signs on the store classifying the area “unsafe to occupy” and therefore a dangerous building.