Small fire
erupts in
electrical room

By Misti Drew
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mdrew@tribunecourier.com

BENTON – Fire broke out at the Benton Wal-Mart during a round of intense thunderstorms just shortly before 8 a.m. Friday morning.

And while a lightning strike is suspected, Benton Fire Chief Harry Green said that it’s not been confirmed as the determining factor in the store’s 3,000 amp fuse blowing.

A small fire erupted as a result, which was contained to the store’s electrical room, located at the back of the building.

Green said fire fighters were able to put out the flames within minutes with the aid of the department’s fire extinguishers.

Green said the electric company was dispatched and arrived on-scene immediately. Customers and employees were evacuated from the store.

The health department was called in to monitor cold food temperatures and oversee the transfer of all frozen foods to external storage units located behind the store.

Wal-Mart was closed for the remainder of the day and did not re-open until later that evening. The store suffered only minimal smoke damage.