fire

A Sunday night fire that forced the closure of a rural Walmart store in upstate New York is being investigated as a suspected arson.

Police in Cobleskill, New York said the fire was ignited by a man who fled in an unknown direction.  

No injuries were reported in the fire reported at 10:58 p.m. in the Walmart. The store is normally open around the clock, and is staffed by scores of employees. The fire triggered the evacuation of all employees and customers in the store, police said.

Though the fire was confined, merchandise throughout the store was damaged by smoke and water, police said.

Attempts to reach Walmart managers for comment were unsuccessful. Officials said it was not immediately known when the store, which includes a pharmacy, will reopen.

The same Walmart store was fined $52,600 three years ago following inspections by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The penalty was imposed for what the agency called “repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards.” 

Mahoney writes for the Oneonta, (N.Y.) Daily Star.