Suspicious fire causes $90,000 in damage

By Dave Clark

Monday, Nov. 3, 2008 | 3:11 p.m.

Henderson fire officials said a suspicious fire consumed a tax preparation office today in a strip mall near Pecos Road and Wigwam Parkway.

Battalion Chief Tim Hartman said the fire could be arson, noting evidence so far pointed investigators away from any faulty equipment.

The business was not yet open when the Fire Department received a report of a smoking air conditioning unit on the roof around 8:30 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find smoke in the unit and fire in the office below.

Officials said a quick offensive attack contained the fire to just one business and brought the fire under control in 15 minutes.

Damage was estimated at $90,000, and Hartman said the office was a total loss. There were no injuries, and the fire remains under investigation.

"We don't have a cause yet," Hartman said. "Investigators are sifting through the debris to find out what happened."

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].