Tuesday, November 17, 2009
PetSmart employee charged with arson in weekend fire at Roanoke store
Photo by Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times
Erica Vermillion holds a puppy she rescued after a fire broke out Saturday at PetSmart near Valley View Mall in Roanoke. Vermillion helped move the puppy's crate away from the store entrance. She later filled out the adoption paperwork in the parking lot. She said that she and her fiance are going to name their new pet Sparky.
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Corey Brian Hite, 18, of Ivanhoe, is charged with arson, Roanoke Fire-EMS spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury said.
No one was injured and all the animals were evacuated safely.
Firefighters were called to the store in the 4700 block of Valley View just after 1 p.m. Saturday and found thick smoke coming from the store, Bradbury said.
Several employees left the store, but then ran back in to save the store's animals, and customer's animals that were being groomed. The store's animals have been relocated to other stores in the area.
People shopping in Target were also evacuated.
