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Holly Square Mall Fire May Have Been Arson

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May 20, 2008 7:45 pm US/Mountain

Holly Square Mall Fire May Have Been Arson

DENVER (CBS4) ― A neighborhood landmark in Denver went up in flames early Sunday morning and after initially thinking it was an accident, investigators have confirmed they have found evidence the fire may have been intentionally set.

The two-alarm fire at the Holly Square Shopping Center started just before 4 a.m. at 33rd and Holly in Park Hill.

Phil Champagne with Denver fire confirmed to CBS4's Rick Sallinger Tuesday they may have found evidence to support the fire as being arson. The Denver Fire Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation were all working the case together.

The blaze destroyed a liquor store, dentist's office and four other businesses. It was put out just feet from a church and day care center.

The investigators concluded the fire began in Tyson's Market, which in the center of the strip mall.

Community residents were shocked at the loss describing the cluster of stores next to a library and youth center as the long-time social and economic center of Park Hill.

"We drove over here when I was in third grade," former Park Hill resident Robyn Sims said. "We used to come over here. It was a nice area; candy stores and hardware stores. I'm hoping that this area really improves and makes a better community."

"To the community, it's a huge loss, because all our economics come from here, all our money comes from here," resident Kenny Greenwood said. "This is our community. This is the heart of the community right here."

There is gang graffiti on the walls of the mall and community leaders are concerned it may have been started because of a gang-related incident.

"Once something like this starts, if it were gang related, then the opposing gang members are going to have to attack and it keeps going on and on and on," Sharon Alexander-Holt with Urban League said.

"We always have incidents in Denver, especially this time of year," anti-gang activist Terrence Roberts said. "But, and I have to say this, it's not a full-fledged just all-out gang war yet, but we are here to provide services, hoping that it doesn't become that."

One Denver firefighter was slightly injured fighting the fire, but expected to recover.

The owners of the strip mall said they hope to rebuild.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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