Investigation continues in Walkerton arson

By Kelli Stopczynski (kstopczynski@wsbt.com)

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State Fire Marshal’s Detective Jeff Roseboom said someone intentionally broke the natural gas line behind a building in Walkerton, and then set it on fire around 1 a.m. Monday. (WSBT photo)

State Fire Marshal’s Detective Jeff Roseboom said someone intentionally broke the natural gas line behind a building in Walkerton, and then set it on fire around 1 a.m. Monday. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Nov 2, 2009 at 4:36 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 2, 2009 at 6:18 PM EST

WALKERTON ― In a small town, news travels fast. Phyllis Wille said her phone rang off the hook Monday from customers and friends wanting to know what happened at the vacant building next door.

“We just can’t believe that would happen in Walkerton,” said Wille, owner of The New Kitchen Store.

“That really could have hurt somebody,” added Tisha Jacobson-Maher, who owns a nearby bar called the Speakeasy Manor.

State Fire Marshal’s Detective Jeff Roseboom said someone intentionally broke the natural gas line behind the vacant Fireworks Factory building, and then set it on fire around 1 a.m. Monday.

“Whoever did this was also taking a chance by lighting the gas that was coming out, that they did not cause some type of explosion or ignite themselves,” Roseboom explained.

Detectives don’t know the name of the person who noticed the smoke and flames coming from the building in the 600 block of Roosevelt Street, then ran less than a block to the police station rather than dialing 911.

But they do know that person could have saved lives, because the combination of fire and natural gas could have easily caused an explosion.

Two people live in an apartment building above the vacant building that caught fire. Apartments above other downtown buildings were also occupied at the time.

From Roosevelt, passers-by can’t see obvious signs of a fire. But the damaged gas meter and partially boarded-up garage door had remnants of smoke and water damage.

“[Firefighters] told us that the whole block could have been gone. They said it was just a miracle that it didn't [blow up],” Wille said.

She also knows how hard she’s worked to establish her business in a troubled economy. Wille said losing it would have been “horrid.”

“We’ve only been here a couple years, but it takes a long time to get established in a neighborhood,” she said.

Roseboom said he interviewed some witnesses and there are some “persons of interest” in the case.

Detectives are also reviewing surveillance video from the inside of the Speakeasy Manor. The bar was open Sunday night and closed around midnight or 12:30 a.m. ― right before the fire was set.

The area behind the bar is used for parking, and detectives want to take a look at who was inside the bar around that time.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Walkerton Police Department at (574) 586-3511.

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