ATF OFFERS $5,000 REWARD FOR GARDEN RIDGE FIRE

HOUSTON – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Houston Field Division Special Agent in Charge Melvin D. King, Jr. today announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting a fire inside of the Garden Ridge Home Décor Store located at 16788 I-45, Conroe, Texas. The fire occurred on October 12, 2011 and caused an estimated $15,000,000 in damages.

The ATF Houston Arson Explosives Task Force and the Conroe Fire Marshal’s Office have been investigating the fire since October 12, 2011. The public’s assistance is requested in developing information on whoever is responsible for starting the fire at the Garden Ridge Home Décor Store in Conroe. Anyone with information on this fire is encouraged to contact ATF at:

(888) ATF-FIRE or (888) 283-3473

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating Arson crimes that affect commerce. More information on ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.

ATF and Fire Marshals Conclude Investigation at Garden Ridge Fire

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Fire Ruled as Intentionally Set

CONROE, TX – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Dewey Webb along with the City of Conroe Deputy Fire Marshal Joe Craig and the Montgomery County Fire Marshal James Williams are announcing that the conclusion of the scene investigation at the Garden Ridge Pottery fire that occurred on Oct. 12. All agencies are in agreement that the blaze was intentionally set. At this time they will not release additional details on the specific origin and cause of the fire as a criminal investigation is on-going.

The loss of the 110,000 square foot store is estimated at $15,000,000. Various components of the ATF National Response Team and the Fire Marshals have been on the scene since the fire began and finished processing the scene today. The information developed was reviewed and analyzed to assist in determining the origin and cause of the fire.

“Local ATF special agents will continue to work in partnership on the investigation with the Fire Marshal’s Offices in Conroe and Montgomery County until the individual(s) responsible are brought to justice” said Webb.

Many agencies participated in the scene investigation at this fire. Some of them include the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Conroe Fire Department, the Conroe Police Department, Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Houston Arson Bureau.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. More information on ATF can be found at ATF.gov.