An employee has been charged with arson in a weekend fire at a Roanoke, Virginia pet store that caused about $2 million in damage.
Roanoke Fire Department spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury said 18-year-old Corey Brian Hite of Ivanhoe in Wythe County was arrested Tuesday.
She says firefighters were called to the PetSmart store Saturday afternoon and found thick smoke coming from the store.
No one was injured, and all the animals were evacuated safely.
Shoppers in an adjacent Target store also were evacuated.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Virginia
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
‘We’ll Want Some Proof’: State Farm CEO’s Take on NY Auto Insurance Reforms 
Flood Insurance Gap Will Squeeze Local Governments and Homeowners, Moody’s Says 
Florida’s Unemployment Rate Is Surging Even as High-Profile Companies Move In 
Mississippi Insurance Dept. Top Examiner Named in $90M Credit Union Theft Suit 
