UPDATE: Home Depot hiring temporary workers to clean up after fire
(ABC 6 News) – Rochester police confirmed Friday that a fire at Home Depot was set intentionally.
According to communications officer Amanda Grayson, witnesses at the store (3050 41st Street NW) saw a man walking around the store for a few hours, crouching down in the area where the fire occurred, then attempting to leave the store with the cart of merchandise.
When employees stopped the man, he left the cart and ran out. The fire was located at roughly the same time, Grayson said.
One person was treated for smoke inhalation and transported by MCAS.
RPD is still investigating the incident. The store remains closed Friday morning, but Home Depot is hiring temporary workers to help clean up the mess in order to get the store back up and running.
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(ABC 6 News) – Rochester Police are investigating a fire inside the Home Depot on 41st St. NW as a possible arson.
The fire was called in just after 6 p.m. Thursday evening.
Statements from witnesses at the scene tell ABC 6 News the fire was intentionally set after a suspected shoplifter ran out of the lumber area of the store, where the fire started.
RPD confirmed with ABC 6 News multiple statements claim the fire was intentional.
Tyler Rodgers, an employee at the Home Depot said he and another employee were following someone they believed to be shoplifting, when they saw him disappear down an aisle.
Moments later, Rodgers said he saw smoke and flames coming from the aisle.
“We look over, and the end of our aisle is just completely engulfed, and so I basically jump straight into gear,” Rodgers said.
Rochester Police said the fire was extinguished by people at the store before they got to the scene.
One person was treated for smoke inhalation and transported by MCAS.
More information is expected to be released Fri. morning. A suspect has not been identified.
This is a developing story, and ABC 6 News will update this story once more information is available.