Though the investigation is still ongoing, fire officials in Killeen, Texas, stated in a news release April 26 they suspect arson in the case of a self-storage facility fire on April 23.
Bell Mini Storage on Reynolds Drive caught fire at about 10:30 p.m., causing damage to a combined 31 units and 11 vehicles at both ends of a storage structure. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they noticed two separate fires that likely did not start from the same spark. Firefighters had contained the blaze at the self-storage facility by midnight, but crews stayed until daybreak to watch for hotspots and ensure a flame didn't reignite.
Wildfires have been plaguing much of Texas for more than a week. Bell County, which is home to Bell Mini Storage, has a "burn ban" in effect, as sparks combined with windy and dry conditions could cause more uncontrolled fires. Killeen is 68 miles north of Austin and very near the U.S. military base at Fort Hood.
Sources:
- Killeen Daily Herald: Killeen Fire Marshal Says Arson Suspected in Bell Mini Storage Fire
- Killeen Daily Herald: Texas Today: Fire Damages Killeen Storage Facility
