WTHR.com is the news leader for Indianapolis and Central Indiana. Get the best news, weather, sports and traffic information from Channel 13.
Indianapolis , December 27, 2002 (AP) - Some post-Christmas shoppers were sent scrambling Thursday night after a half-dozen small fires were set within an hour inside four stores on Indy s Eastside.
One person suffered minor burns in the fires at Sears, Target and Spencer Gifts at Washington Square Mall and at a nearby Wal-Mart, Warren Township firefighters said.
Store employees were able to put out the fires, and most of the damage was limited to burned store merchandise. But firefighters said the people in the stores were still in danger.
"It could have been a disaster," said Sean Ferbrache, Warren Township Division Chief.
Marion County authorities have arrested 19-year-old Jason Young and a 15-year-old whose identity is protected as a juvenile. They say the 15-year-old admitted to setting some of the fires.
A Cumberland police officer noticed the two teens running from a burning dumpster at the 10th Street Pub. Police say they found firestarter sticks and matches on the pair.
The first fires were set at 8:15 p.m. in the Target, with flames from racks of clothes and towels filling the store with smoke that caused shoppers and employees to evacuate.
Clothes also were set on fire at the Sears and Spencer Gifts Stores. Hunting gear and camouflage shirts were burned at 9:15 p.m. At the Wal-Mart store.
"The whole rack of shirts was on fire - they were going pretty good," said Jason Gross, who was shopping at the Wal-Mart.
