Police investigate suspicious fire at local business
Off-road vehicles are charred at Rick Anderson's on Center Street in Kalispell on Thursday. The suspicious fire is under investigation. (Krista Buls photo)
Police are investigating a suspicious fire that broke out at a Kalispell business early Thursday morning.
The fire at Rick Anderson’s Snow Jobs and Dirt Stuff on Center Street was reported at about 2:30 a.m. According to Kalispell Police Department Detective Jim Wardensky, the blaze caused about $40,000 in damage to snowmobiles, four-wheelers and other off-road vehicles parked at the property.
Wardensky said the damage was all outside of the building and that no one was injured.
According to Wardensky, the department’s investigation revealed that the fire was likely caused due to human involvement. Surveillance video shows a person running from the scene following a large explosion.
“We don’t know if it was deliberate or negligent,” Wardensky said.
Detectives were still attempting to identify the suspect Thursday evening.
“We have the video footage and we’re trying to work with that to see if we can ID the person,” Wardensky said. “If we’re not able to figure it out, we’ll go the social media route.”
Anyone with tips should call crimestoppers at 752-8477.