Fire officials said they received a call at approximately 5:15 a.m. about smoke and fire at a strip mall in the 2700 block of West Foothill Boulevard. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a building consumed in flames with the roof already caved in.
San Bernardino police say witnesses told them they saw someone throw what they described as a fireball into the business and flee on foot. Authorities have not been able to confirm this aside from witness testimony, but they are looking into the possibility of arson.
Another reason investigators are calling this fire suspicious is how quickly the fire spread.
The second alarm fire was knocked down shortly before 6 a.m. Damage was mostly contained to one business, Omar Wireless, but fire officials said there was some damage to the surrounding units. No injuries were reported.
The store owner spoke with investigators to try and get to the bottom of the fire. Neighbors describe the owner as a great guy who always helped people.
Fire officials said they would likely stay on scene until evening and continue looking through the rubble for evidence.
