Gas Station A Total Loss After Fire, Authorities Investigate Possibility Of Arson
STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) - A Sterling Heights gas station is a total loss after fire destroyed it early Sunday morning.
Police Lieutenant David Smith says the Marathon gas station on 14 Mile may have been intentionally set.
"The clerk heard an explosion, he went back into the store-room and found a fire and was able to get out of the business," said Lt. Smith.
" ... what I heard was most of the building was pretty much destroyed in the fire," Smith said. "It started in the storage room and it spread throughout ... but a good deal of the building was destroyed."
Sixteen-year-old Jaz Caraselly lives right down street from the Marathon heard the whole thing unfold around 2:30 this morning: "It was crazy, I've never seen anything like it - now there is caution tape all around it, it's all black, the building didn't collapse but everything was ruined," said Caraselly.
Fire officials are still investigating whether accelerate was used, or if there were any personal vendettas against the clerk.
Security camera footage will also be reviewed. No injuries were reported
