Arson suspected in fire at AAA Mini Storage units
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on July 8, 2009 1:43 PM
Full Size
News-Argus photo
Firefighters break through doors of mini-storage units to get to a fire which destroyed 22 clients' belongings Monday at AAA storage.
Police suspect arson in a fire that damaged eight "mini storage" units at an Industry Court business shortly after noon Monday, according to a report.
The State Bureau of Investigation has become involved in looking into the incident, authorities said.
Shannon Lee of AAA Mini Storage reported the fire, which caused an estimated $300,000 in personal property damage.
Twenty-two people had belongings destroyed in the fire, according to the police report.
Ms. Lee told police a person she did not know entered the Industry Court business and told her that the storage units were on fire.
Units from Goldsboro Fire Department arriving on the scene reported smoke showing in the section B building. The fire involved four storage compartments with heavy smoke damage to approximately 10 additional units. The fire was called under control at 12:52 p.m., but units remained on the scene until 3:23 p.m. investigating the cause.
Police documented an estimated $7,600 in damages to the storage units and connected garage doors.
Most of the people who lost property in the fire had Goldsboro addresses, although a few from out of town, including a Virginia Beach man and a Pikeville man.
At least one person who owned a mini storage unit that was affected has a criminal record, according to archived Goldsboro police reports.
Police said investigation into the incident is continuing.