Firefighters respond to suspicious fire at Columbia Dollar General

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department said Monday afternoon that crews responded to a suspicious fire at a Columbia Dollar General just after midnight.

Assistant Fire Chief Brad Fraizer said in an email that heavy smoke and fire was reported at the business on Flanders Court around 12:11 a.m.

ABC 17 News crews at the scene saw roughly half a dozen fire trucks, one with its ladder raised. Firefighters said it took about an hour to bring the fire under control.

Fraizer said in the release investigators are working with the Columbia Police Department to find out how the fire started. The cause of the fire wasn't immediately available.

Fire crews responded to the same Dollar General on May 11 for a fire that caused roughly $600,000 in damage. According to the Columbia Police Department, two teens were detained on May 27 on suspicion of first-degree arson for that incident.