Fire Still Being Investigated: "Suspicious"

======================================================================Firefighter injured, strip mall burns in Grand Terrace
10:32 PM PDT on Wednesday, September 17, 2008
By IMRAN GHORI and RICHARD BROOKS
Staff Writers

The cause of a three-alarm fire that destroyed four businesses and slightly injured one firefighter in a Grand Terrace strip mall early Wednesday is being investigated as suspicious, fire officials said.

The fast moving fire started around 3 a.m. at the Terrace Village Plaza on Barton Road near La Crosse Avenue. The fire started at the EZ Mart liquor store and spread through a common attic to JC Stylez hair and nail salon, A-1 Cleaners and a florist shop that had not yet opened for business, officials said. Because of the early hour, none of the businesses was occupied. "The strip mall is a complete loss.

The entire roof has collapsed," said Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. Damage is estimated at more than $1 million, said Dave Nunez, a county fire battalion chief.

When the first crews arrived, the EZ Mart liquor store was fully ablaze and flames were spreading to the other businesses, he said. It took about 60 firefighters two to three hours to contain and control the flames. With a roof collapse and concern over flammable materials in the stores, it was unsafe for firefighters to attack the blaze from inside the structure, Nunez said. "There was just no way we could stop it," he said.

One firefighter was treated at the scene for a pulled hamstring.

Arson investigators from the county fire and sheriff's departments are investigating the cause, which appears to be suspicious, said Battalion Chief Ken Munsey. A sheriff's arson/bomb dog was at the scene sniffing for clues.

Owners of the businesses watched from across the parking lot as firefighters finished up their work Wednesday morning. "We just came to open the place and the place was burned out," said Zouhir Aldyab, owner of the EZ Mart, as he waited to talk to firefighters and see what he could salvage from his store. Aldyab said he bought the business eight months ago. Stacey Hernandez, who opened the hair salon with her father, Todd Peters, a year ago, sat on a curb with several stylists who worked for her, all of whom will be out of work, she said. "What do we do now?" she asked.

Reach Richard Brooks at 909-806-3057 or rbrooks@PE.com
Reach Imran Ghori at 909-806-3061 or ighori@PE.com