Published: Monday, October 23, 2006
Fire at New Age shop in Everett under investigation
EVERETT - Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze that torched a downtown New Age gift shop late Saturday.
A fire at Moonflower Magicks on the corner of Colby Avenue and California Street ignited displays of essential oils, candles and incense, causing fire and smoke damage.
Everett Fire Battalion Chief Dave Neyens said flames were bursting through a street-level window when firefighters arrived shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday.
Firefighters kicked in a door to extinguish the fire. They also forced entry at a neighboring business, which sustained smoke damage that reached the store through a shared attic. Yellow fire tape was set up around the two shops Sunday.
Neyens said the fire appears to have started near a display window. He said investigators have not determined whether the window was broken prior to the fire's eruption.
"It's under investigation to determine if it was or wasn't arson," he said.
Store owner Jana "Moonflower" Benson said the shop was getting ready to celebrate its six-year anniversary on Halloween, which coincides with the ancient Celtic harvest festival Samhain.
She said the shop's popular three-year-old African gray parrot Louie Louie was safe at home during the fire.
"Nothing was hurt that can't be fixed," Benson said. "We don't know how it started. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope it was an accident."
In addition to books, crafts and gifts, the shop also holds belly-dance classes and is a gathering point for people from as far away as Bellingham, Benson said.
She said the shop and the building are insured and that she hopes to reopen for business by the last leg of the Christmas shopping season.
"We'll probably have a fire sale," she said.
A fire at Moonflower Magicks on the corner of Colby Avenue and California Street ignited displays of essential oils, candles and incense, causing fire and smoke damage.
Everett Fire Battalion Chief Dave Neyens said flames were bursting through a street-level window when firefighters arrived shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday.
Firefighters kicked in a door to extinguish the fire. They also forced entry at a neighboring business, which sustained smoke damage that reached the store through a shared attic. Yellow fire tape was set up around the two shops Sunday.
Neyens said the fire appears to have started near a display window. He said investigators have not determined whether the window was broken prior to the fire's eruption.
"It's under investigation to determine if it was or wasn't arson," he said.
Store owner Jana "Moonflower" Benson said the shop was getting ready to celebrate its six-year anniversary on Halloween, which coincides with the ancient Celtic harvest festival Samhain.
She said the shop's popular three-year-old African gray parrot Louie Louie was safe at home during the fire.
"Nothing was hurt that can't be fixed," Benson said. "We don't know how it started. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope it was an accident."
In addition to books, crafts and gifts, the shop also holds belly-dance classes and is a gathering point for people from as far away as Bellingham, Benson said.
She said the shop and the building are insured and that she hopes to reopen for business by the last leg of the Christmas shopping season.
"We'll probably have a fire sale," she said.
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