Two teens accused in Columbia Dollar General fire

COLUMBIA, Mo, (KMIZ)

Columbia police have detained two 16-year-old suspects in a fire that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to a Dollar General store.

The teens were taken in on suspicion of first-degree arson in the May 11 fire, according to a Columbia Police Department news release Wednesday. The store is located on Flanders Court just off Clark Lane in northeast Columbia.

The business was open at the time but no one was hurt.

The fire marshal said the fire caused $350,000 in damage to the store's contents and another $250,000 in damage to the building.

The teens were referred to juvenile authorities, police said.

Police said they worked with the fire department to investigate the fire. Authorities have not released what started the blaze.