Fire Damages Juneau Convenience Store

Officials in Juneau are investigating a fire that damaged a Mendenhall Valley store.

Employee Mike Martin was closing up the Valley Breeze-In at about 3 a.m. Sunday when he saw flames reflected off a nearby building. He went outside to investigate and spotted empty boxes and pallets burning alongside the store.

He tells the Juneau Empire he used two fire extinguishers to put out the blaze. Rain also helped put out most of the fire.

The store wall was still smoldering when Capital City Fire and Rescue firefighters arrived. They ripped out part of the building's roofing to make sure that insulation had not ignited.

Damage is estimated at $5,000.

Breeze-In purchasing manager Kelley Brownlow says the fire could have been started intentionally or by a wayward cigarette butt.