The investigation into an apparent burglary and fire that destroyed the Peerless Auto Repair building Monday is continuing with no determination yet made on whether it was arson.
Duluth police arson investigator Todd Kuusisto and property crimes investigator Deserie Miller worked through the rubble on Tuesday.
Firefighters responded to a 2:47 a.m. Monday call reporting thick smoke billowing from the 38,000-square-foot, two-story building at 2831 W. Superior St., and it was soon fully engulfed. Twenty-eight firefighters, including five engine companies, three ladder companies and one rescue squad were on the scene. Frozen hydrants and freezing hand lines complicated their efforts.
The loss of the structure was estimated at $100,000. Rob Rabold, owner of the business, estimated about 30 vehicles were in the building when the fire started.
A 25-year-old Duluth man was taken into custody by police as a "person of interest." Officers responding to the fire came upon an abandoned but running vehicle in the intersection of 29th Avenue West and First Street. The man was stopped by an officer as he walked toward the fire scene from the general area of where the abandoned vehicle was found. The vehicle came from inside the Peerless building. The man had a check made out to Peerless Auto Repair in his possession.
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No charges have been filed in connection with the blaze, and police were attempting to interview the man on Tuesday.
He's being held in the St. Louis County Jail on an unrelated warrant. In that case, the man is charged with the theft of less than $500. He failed to appear for his Nov. 16 arraignment on that charge and a warrant was issued. He has denied to police any involvement in the fire.
Police spokesman Brad Wick asked that anyone who might have seen a suspicious person or vehicle, or anything out of the ordinary, in the area of the fire early Monday contact Kuusisto at (218) 730-5709.
