Columbia Fire Department (CFD) investigators have concluded that an October blaze that caused more than $100,000 in damage to a warehouse near I-70 “was set as retaliation by unhoused individuals against the property owner.”
CFD’s conclusion is in a six-page report released by the department on Thursday. The October 20th fire happened at the Winnelson warehouse in the 600 block of Nebraska Avenue, just south of busy Interstate 70.
The report quotes the warehouse owner as saying he often runs homeless residents from the property and frequently called Columbia Police to have them removed. The report says CFD investigators asked him if he had any problems with competitors that would cause them to set his property on fire, and he said no. The report also says Columbia Police are familiar with the Winnelson warehouse, as they had “been there for issues with unhoused individuals camping in the area.”
The fire caused about $125,000 in damage, and CFD has shared their information with Columbia Police. The fire remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made. Columbia Winnelson is a supplier of residential and industrial supplies.
