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WEBVTT HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS ON A MASSIVE FLAMES ON WEDNESDAY WITH SMOKE BILLOWING IN THE AIR. THE STORE MANAGER WAS INSIDE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. >> I ACTUALLY WAS AT THE REGISTER WHEN IT HAPPENED. WHEN I SAW MY COWORKER COME DOWN THE AISLE AND TELL ME THERE WAS A FIRE. BRANDI: SHE SAYS THEY TRY PUTTING THE FIRE OUT, BUT WITH NO LUCK THEY WERE TO GET EVERYONE TO SAFETY. >> I PANICKED. I WAS SCARED. MAINLY WE HAD TO FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER. BRANDI: WITH A FRANTIC MENTAL ROLL CALL, SHE SEARCH FOR THE FOUR EMPLOYEES AND FIVE CUSTOERS OUR INSIDE. >> I WENT BACK IN BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY COWORKERS. BRANDI: FIREFIGHTERS QUICKLY STOP THE FLAMES. AS THEY WERE TO MAKE SURE NO ONE -- NOTHING WOULD REIGNITE, THE SCENE WAS CAPTURED ONLY BY LIVECOPTER3. A SACRAMENTO FIRE CAPTAIN PULLED TO SAFETY BY HIS CREW. BACK AT THE BUSINESS TODAY CHA AND STORE OWNER LISA MURRIETA-BROWN SHOWED US THE FIRE STARTED IN THE MIDDLE FRONT OF THE STORE IN A CLOTHES ISLE. >> I HAVE LEARNED OF COURSE WITH CLOTHING, THE AMOUNT OF TOYS AND PLASTIC AS STUFF LIKE THAT IN THE STORE, JUST MAKES IT GET BIGGER QUICKER. BRANDI: THE MASSIVE FIRE, NOW RULED AN ARSON. >> THERE’S SOME EVIDENCE THAT THEY FOUND AND SOME OTHER STUFF THAT THEY’VE HEARD FROM WITNESSES AND SOME OF THE OTHER VIDEOS AND PICTURES THAT THEY’VE SEEN THAT LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT. BRANDI: FIRE CREWS SPENT TIME BACK AT THE SCENE TODAY EXPLORING LESSONS LEARNED TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR YEARS TO COME. DESPITE THE DEVASTATION THAT REMAINS, THE OWNER VOWS TO REBUILD.

Advertisement ‘I panicked’: Manager recalls moments before arson destroyed Sacramento store Arson gutted children’s store in Arden-Arcade area, officials say Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A fire that destroyed an Arden-Arcade area children’s store last week was deemed to be arson, Sacramento Metro Fire Department investigators said Tuesday.Once Upon A Child, a children's apparel and toy store on the corner of Alta Arden Way and Howe Avenue, was quickly engulfed in flames just before 6 p.m. on Oct. 24. The intense flames quickly overtook the building.“There is enough information based on what our investigators have found to make that declaration,” Capt. Chris Vestal said.Store manager Mary Cha was in the store when the fire ignited. “I was at the register when it happened and when I saw my co-worker come down the aisle telling me that it was a fire,” she said Tuesday.Cha said she and co-workers tried putting out the flames but had no luck. So, they worked to get everyone to safety. “I panicked. I panicked and was scared at the same time,” she said. “But mainly, we had to focus on our customers, making sure that we got everybody out.”Store owner Lisa Murrieta-Brown was driving when she got a frantic video call from Cha.“I see a fire (during the call). It didn’t look that bad. I mean, it’s a blazing fire, but it seemed pretty direct in where it was in the store,” Brown said. “Driving up and not being able to get anywhere near the building, then it was a little bit more real as to what had happened.”Brown arrived after the flames had been extinguished. She learned that a fire captain nearly fell through the roof of her building while battling the blaze; his crew was able to quickly rescue him before he completely fell.“I was assured that he was OK and that was refreshing to know,” Brown said.The fire started in the middle front of the store in a clothes aisle, she said.“I’ve learned, of course, with clothing, the amount of toys and plastic and stuff like that in the store, just makes it get bigger quicker,” Brown said.Investigators said they found evidence at the scene that pointed to arson as the cause of the fire.“Our investigators have looked through the scene. There’s some evidence that they found and some other stuff that they’ve heard from witnesses and some of the other videos and pictures that they’ve seen that leads us to believe that,” Vestal said. “That goes with the way the fire burned, what our crews reported when they arrived and just the spread of the fire itself.”Vestal said there isn’t a threat to other businesses or people. No one is in custody at this time.“Our investigators have some ideas on what they believe started the fire,” he said. “However, we’re not going to release that at this time.”The investigation into the arson is ongoing.Despite the devastation that remains, Brown vows to rebuild. “I don’t want it to stop here,” she said.