Rush Township Police are asking the public’s help in identifying four individuals involved in an arson fire this morning (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014) inside the Hometown Wal-Mart.
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“These four individuals are responsible for starting the fire near the lawn and garden section of the store,” said Sgt. Duane Frederick, Rush Township Police Department. “The males ran out of the store and got into a black vehicle and fled the parking lot headed north on SR309.” Emergency personnel responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Hometown at 2:26 AM for a report of flames and thick white smoke inside the lawn and garden section of the store.
An employee on scene stated that they (employees) had evacuated all the customers from the store in a short period of time. Rush Township Police and firefighters also assisted with the evacuation.
Staring into the store, all you could see was thick white smoke.
Tamaqua’s ladder truck was staged in between the lawn and garden section and auto service center. Just below it, water could be seen pouring out a door of the lawn and garden section.
Responding were Hometown Fire Company, Rush Township Police, Tamaqua Rescue, Tamaqua Ambulance, Tamaqua’s ladder truck, Tamaqua’s South Ward Fire Company, Ryan Township Fire Company, Quakake Fire Company and Delano Fire Company. Hometown Fire Police directed traffic around the scene. Police and firefighters, who were working in blowing snow and frigid temperatures, remained on scene for about 3 hours. The store remains closed until further notice.
