Reward posted for arson at Walmart in Urbana

A fire at the Walmart on East U.S. 36 was arson and law enforcement officials are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification of a suspect or suspects.

The determination that the burning of a sales display in the automotive department on Monday night was intentional was announced Tuesday by the Division of State Fire Marshal, the Urbana Police Department and the Urbana Fire Department.

There were about 100 shoppers and employees in the store at the time of the incident, but no one was injured, fire Chief Mark Keller said. He estimated the damage at $1,000 to $5,000.

Because the investigation is ongoing, none of the agencies will release specific details about how the fire was started. But Shane Cartmill, state fire marshal’s spokesman, said there was no indication a disgruntled employee is suspected.

“We have talked to the employees and are working with the information they have told us,” Cartmill said Tuesday. “They have been cooperative. Surveillance video is being reviewed, he said, declining to say whether the video has helped narrow the investigation to a suspect or potential suspect.

Police and fire crews were notified of the fire in the store at about 7:47 p.m. Firefighters learned that a store associate in the electronics department noticed flames on the display at the end of an aisle and grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher.

That employee, who has not been identified by name, put out the fire while other associates notified store management and the fire department. Other employees also helped in dragging the debris outside for fear that the fire might spread, according to Cartmill.

“This fire, especially given the area of the store in which it started, had the potential to spread quickly and could have put up to 100 employees and shoppers in a life threatening situation,” police Chief Matt Lingrell said.

Keller said, “The Walmart associates ... are to be commended for their quick actions in extinguishing the fire and protecting fellow employees, shoppers and property. Their quick actions limited the amount of fire, smoke and water damage to the store.”

The Blue Ribbon Arson Reward is being offered to anyone with information about the person or persons responsible for the fire. Anyone with information is asked to call the state fire marshal at 1-800-589-2728.

Any information should be considered significant, Cartmill, Lingrell and Keller said. If a witness wishes to remain anonymous, that person should call the police department’s crime tip hotline at (937) 652-4357.