Crime & Safety
Fire at Walmart May Have Been Started by Kid with Lighter in Toy Dept.
The small fire caused minor damage at store on Johnson Road in Lawrenceville.
A small fire in the toy department forced an evacuation of a Gwinnett County Walmart Wednesday afternoon.
Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said the fire, which was quickly put out by a store employee before firefighters arrived, is believed to have been started by a child with a lighter while trying to open a box with a toy inside.
The fire was reported just before 5 p.m. at the Walmart on Lawrenceville Highway in Lawrenceville.
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Around 100 customers and 65 employees were temporarily evacuated. The store also was closed during the cleanup, but was expected to be re-opened later Wednesday.
The fire caused minor damage to some toy items and created a light smoke haze in the store.
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No information was released on the child or the child’s parents.
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