A suspected firebug is accused of setting a blaze that burned millions of dollars in merchandise at a Target store in Burbank.
Stephanie Irene Mendoza, 27, of San Fernando, was arrested and charged with arson after allegedly lighting the fire in the store’s bedding section around 11 p.m. on March 29, authorities said.
No injuries were reported, despite the fire spreading while customers were inside.
The Target, located at 1800 Empire Ave., has remained closed.
Damages from blaze have reached into the millions of dollars, including lost merchandise, smoke contamination and structural damage.
Police found Mendoza a nearby hotel a day after the fire.
“Investigators conducted a comprehensive investigation, which included interviewing witnesses, canvassing for evidence, and collecting and reviewing surveillance video,” the Burbank Police Department said.
At the time of the fire, authorities safely evacuated customers and employees from the area while firefighters put out the flames. It’s unclear why Mendoza allegedly set the fire or when the store will reopen.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Mendoza with one felony count of arson to a commercial building, which can carry a prison sentence of several years.
The case is still under investigation.
