Alaska News

Fire, looters add up to bad day for Fairbanks store

FAIRBANKS --? A fire and would-be looters added up to a bad day for a Fairbanks outdoors retailor.

Fairbanks police say a fire broke out early Sunday morning inside The Prospector store, forcing a temporary closure.

Fire officials speculate a boiler malfunction caused the fire. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported smoke from the fire initiated the sprinkler system, which doused the fire.

Then, as employees were cleaning up the mess, KTUU reports three looters tried to sneak in a back door, which had been propped open.

KTUU says police were nearby investigating another complaint and saw a commotion in the parking lot as employees tried to detain the suspects.

Police say the three attempted to flee, but were caught by police and arrested.

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