ROGERS — Police are investigating an early morning fire that destroyed a Rogers business Wednesday, said Bryan Hinds, deputy chief of the Rogers Fire Department's Field Operations Division.
Police and firefighters believe the fire was intentionally set, authorities said.
"It is under investigation," said Keith Foster, police spokesman, Wednesday afternoon.
No information, including suspects, origin of the fire or cause of the fire, was released.
Rolling smoke and flames were showing through the roof of the building at 2:46 a.m. Wednesday and spread quickly, Hinds said. About half of the building at 2004 S. Eighth St. was on fire before firefighters arrived four minutes after the call. Police officers on patrol called in the blaze.
"The gusting wind was feeding the flames pretty good by the time we got there," Hinds said.
No one was injured, but the metal building was nearly a total loss, Hinds said. He estimated damage at $150,000. The shop, with the business name Mickey Beagle Autos, was valued at $159,750, according to county records.
No other structure was damaged in the fire, Hinds said. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a building that was just one foot away, he said.
The building is owned by Starr-Hickman Investments and Floyd and Kathy Mabry, according to county records. Daryl Hickman, Starr-Hickman owner, said the building was leased to Mickey Beagle, who ran a business beside Kent Rylee Automotive Solutions. Hinds said the business appeared to be an auto repair shop. No sign was displayed out front, he said.
Mickey Beagle Auto Sales has a page on Facebook, an online social networking site, that lists an address of 2006 S. Eighth St., which is also owned by Starr-Hickman. The county lists Mickey Beagle Autos' address as 2004½ S. Eighth St.
A message left at the business's phone number wasn't returned Wednesday. Beagle didn't return a message left on his cellphone Wednesday.
At least two cars were in the building when it burned, Hinds said. They were heavily damaged.
Hickman said the building wasn't insured.
NW News on 03/13/2014