Arson suspected in food bank fire
OLIVIA, Minn. — Arson is suspected in a fire that destroyed the contents of the Renville County Food Shelf in a downtown Olivia building on Sunday night.
The fire also caused extensive smoke and heat damage to the Hair Connection, Red Cross office and an apartment unit. No one was injured, and the resident of the second floor apartment was able to escape the building unharmed, according to the Olivia Police Department.
A passerby discovered the fire shortly before 8:35 p.m. The use of a thermal imaging camera greatly aided the fire fighters in attacking the blaze and confining it to the Food Shelf area of the building, according to Olivia Fire Chief Tim Seehusen.
Renville County Food Shelf director Mary Schroepfer. She was hopeful that the Food Shelf would be up and running soon in a new location.
