Arson Blamed In Falmouth Store Fires

FALMOUTH (CBS) -- Officials are investigating two suspicious fires started in Falmouth early Monday morning.

A two-alarm fire was reported at 12:50 a.m. at The Fabric Corner on Spring Bars Road, Falmouth Fire Capt. Greg Clements told WBZ-TV. Nearby houses had to be evacuated and the building was a total loss.

One family has owned the small fabric store since 1975.

"She had beautiful quilts hanging up in the store that she made," employee Helen Catz said about the owner. "It's just very sad."

Employees on the scene Monday were devastated.

"You can't imagine what a loss this is," said employee Joan Carpenter. "I eat, sleep and drink quilts. Working here was the best job I could've had."

Another fire started at about the same time at the Dollar Tree at Falmouth Plaza a few hundred yards away, Clements said. That fire was knocked down by the sprinkler system and caused minor fire damage and water damage in the business.

There were no injuries reported in either fire.

Police said the fire at the Dollar Tree was intentionally set after someone broke through the front door.

The cause of the fire has not been found, and a spokeswoman for the state fire marshal said the investigation has moved into the "criminal phase."

Anyone with information on the fires is asked to call the state's Arson Hotline at 1 (800) 682-9229. The hotline offers up to a $5,000 reward for information that helps solve the case.

Investigators said that while no cause has been determined in the Fabric Corner fire, tips should still be called into the Arson Hotline.

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