Investigators say fire that gutted the Dollar General Store in Silvis, Illinois, was intentionally set by a six-year-old boy from East Moline, Illinois.
Firefighters from five departments battled the blaze that was reported just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at the store at 1312 John Deere Expressway, at the Crosstown Shopping Center. The store’s contents were considered a total loss. Damage was estimated at $500,000. There were no working sprinklers in the store, investigators said.
“The child had started paper towels on fire in the paper section of the store with a lighter he had brought from home,” said a statement from Silvis Fire Chief William Brasche. “The child was in the store with his family, wandered from parental supervision during the shopping trip and used his lighter to start the fire.”
“We are working with the family to provide educational resources for the child and the family,” Brasche said.
No one was injured in the fire.
“(We) are hopeful Dollar General makes a quick return to provide an often used community service,” Brasche said.
