Structure fire at an Elkhart tire shop under investigation

 

ELKHART, Ind. -- The structure fire that destroyed the DMTJ Tire store on County Road 9 in Osolo Township on Sunday is currently under investigation for being a possible arson.

Less than two months after a neighboring construction business burned down, one nearby business owner is worried that the structure fires could be connected to an arsonist.

“Across the street there was a business, Mid-States Construction, that just burned down to the ground a couple of weeks ago, so it makes you a little nervous that there is stuff like that going around,” said Karen Crelling, Vice President/Co-Owner of Axel Incorporated.

Officials say although both buildings were owned by the same owner, they cannot confidently say that either structure fire is an arson.

“The fire at the other business, that one looks like we’ve completed an investigation, and as though there was no maliciousness there. This one we're still looking at. Arson has not been ruled out, but I’ll be clear on the fact that we’re not calling this an arson. It’s too early in the investigation. We’ve not gathered enough information,” said Randy Stone, Assistant Fire Chief Randy Stone of the Osolo Township Fire Department.

Stone is encouraging locals to keep an eye out for nearby residences and business out of extreme caution regardless.