[StBernard] Fire in St. Bernard Parish government-owned building ruled suspicious

[Westley Annis]

Fire in St. Bernard Parish government-owned building ruled suspicious
Print Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
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on September 09, 2013 at 5:15 PM, updated September 09, 2013 at 5:32 PM

A fire on Monday in a St. Bernard Parish government-owned building was
labeled suspicious by parish authorities on Monday afternoon. The two-alarm
Chalmette fire that started about 3 a.m. Monday allegedly destroyed Victory
Lane Raceway, a miniature vehicle racing business operating at 8540 Victory
Drive.

Victory Lane Raceway, which leased its space from the parish government,
sold and rented miniature, remote-controlled cars and held races with them
inside the former Vista Park playground gym, according to parish authorities
and the company's websites.

"They lost all their inventory'' in the fire, Fire Chief Tommy Stone said.

No injuries were reported and St. Bernard firefighters had the fire under
control by about 4 a.m. Monday, Stone said.


He said the state fire marshal's office was brought into the investigation
because the parish government owns the building. Parish detectives are
investigating a potential break-in of the business, according to the St.
Bernard Sheriff's Office.

Stone said a resident who heard an explosion reported the blaze about 3:20
a.m. Monday. The fire largely was confined to the room that formerly housed
the gym's concession stand, Stone said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at
504.822.1111 or the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office at 504.271.2501. Callers
could be eligible for a reward if they have information that leads to an
arrest, according to the Sheriff's Office.