GARDEN GROVE : Customers Asked for Clues in Arson Fire

The Fire Department, seeking more leads in a $2-million arson, is trying to find customers who were in the Thrifty Drug Store at Katella Avenue and Euclid Street shortly before it burned to the ground.

A fire erupted in the store about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, and raged for more than three hours before being brought under control about 1 a.m. Wednesday. The store was destroyed and four adjoining small stores were damaged by smoke and water. Total property loss was estimated at from $1.5 million to $2 million.

Fire officials announced Wednesday that the blaze had been deliberately set in a paper-goods area of the store.

Fire Capt. Bill Dumas, an arson investigator for the department, said Friday that some employees and customers who were in the store already have provided a few clues to a possible suspect in the arson. But Dumas said more information is needed.

“We’re asking the news media if they can help us locate a few more customers who were in the store,” Dumas said. “We hope to locate people who were in the store between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night. We’re asking them to call the Fire Department.”

Persons who were in the store during that time are asked to call either Dumas at (714) 741-5626 or the battalion chief at (714) 741-5680.

Dumas said the department hopes to obtain enough information to release a composite description of the suspect next week.