Mike Sakal
Granite Reef fire
Dee Abel, owner of Abel Clock Co. at Granite Reef Plaza in east Mesa was boxing some items up from his family business that originally opened in St. Louis in 1884. Abel Clock Co. sustained heavy smoke and fire damage and Abel is not sure if he’ll re-open at this time. (Mike Sakal/Tribune)
Mike Sakal
Granite Reef fire
A fire gutted the Granite Reef Plaza at 6350 E. Main St. in Mesa on Sunday, causing nine of 10 businesses to close at the location and the evacuation of a nearby neighborhood. Mesa fire investigators are continuing to look into the cause of the fire. (Mike Sakal/Tribune)
Mike Sakal
Granite Reef fire
Nubia Saldana works out of the back of her car for Gold Rush Coin and Watch after a fire destroyed the section of the Granite Reef Plaza on Sunday where she works. (Mike Sakal/Tribune)
Mike Sakal
Granite Reef fire
The back area of the Granit Reef Plaza at 6350 E. Main St. in Mesa. Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze which destroyed the plaza, causing nine businesses to close and a nearby neighborhood to be evacuated. (Mike Sakal/Tribune)
Mike Sakal
Granite Reef fire
Karen Shellberg, owner of Main Street Grooming (far left), Cynthia Yarnell, owner of from Hair to Eternity salon (center) and Shellberg’s husband, John Direnzo, survey the damage caused by a fire at the Granite Reef Plaza in east Mesa. (Mike Sakal/Tribune)
Mike Sakal
Granite Reef fire
A fire gutted the Granite Reef Plaza at 6350 E. Main St. in Mesa on Sunday, causing nine of 10 businesses to close at the location and the evacuation of a nearby neighborhood. Mesa fire investigators are continuing to look into the cause of the fire. (Mike Sakal/Tribune)
Posted: Thursday, April 12, 2012 4:04 pm
|
Updated: 9:46 am, Thu Apr 19, 2012.
Arson ruled out in Mesa's Granite Reef Plaza fire
By Mike Sakal, Tribune
East Valley Tribune
|
Fire investigators have classified the cause of a fire that destroyed Granite Reef Plaza in east Mesa to be undetermined and have ruled out arson, according to a preliminary report.
Mesa Fire Department spokesman Forrest Smith said Thursday that there were a number of other factors that could have contributed to the cause of the fire such as electrical and nothing appeared to be suspicious about the blaze.
About noon on April 1, churchgoers at Next Generation Worship Centers noticed the fire at the back of the plaza building at 6350 E. Main St. — a blaze that destroyed businesses such as an Ace Flooring store, Abel Clock Co., Next Generation Worship Centers, From Hair to Eternity hair salon and Main Street Grooming.
A cat that was inside the Main Street Grooming owned by Karen Shellberg and John Direnzo, is believed to have perished in the blaze and a Mesa police officer was treated for smoke inhalation after she looked for the cat, according to the Mesa Fire Department.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com
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Thursday, April 12, 2012 4:04 pm.
Updated: 9:46 am.
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Arson,
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