ALTOONA, Iowa — Fire officials are investigating a fire at the Altoona Walmart store on Thursday night as suspicious, and court records show an arrest has been made in the case.
The Altoona Fire Department said it was dispatched to the Walmart at 3501 8th Street SW on a commercial fire around 9:08 p.m. When they arrived at the store, crews saw dense smoke and fire near the interior rear of the store, and the sprinkler system was on.
Firefighters were able to put out the fire quickly and make sure shoppers and staff at the store were evacuated. The AFD said the fire was contained to a localized area in the store, thanks to the sprinkler system.
Online court documents show Jack Cedeno, 41, has been charged with first-degree arson in the case. He was booked into the Polk County Jail at 12:06 a.m. Friday.
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The criminal complaint states Cedeno started several fires inside the Walmart and witnesses saw him in the area of the fires. Cedeno allegedly told officers that “voices told him to start a fire in the bathroom.”
No injuries were reported from the incident…