A fire at the rear loading dock of the former Save-A-Lot in Heights Plaza in Harrison appears to have been deliberately set, officials said Monday.

The blaze was contained to the rear of the building and did not extend to nearby businesses, said Citizens Hose Fire Chief Sean Jones.

“It’s suspicious,” Jones said, overlooking the damage to the vacant business Labor Day afternoon.

Firefighters from Harrison, Tarentum and Lower Burrell responded to the two-alarm blaze shortly before 1:45 p.m.

Jones said the fire was under control in about 20 minutes thanks to the quick work of staff from the nearby Big Lots and township police. He said they were using fire extinguishers until firefighters arrived.

One firefighter was treated at the scene for a head laceration. Jones said he hit his head inside a fire truck when it struck a pothole at the scene, and no one was injured as a result of the fire.

Jones said the utilities were on in the building. The building which houses the township’s Christmas decorations. Those items were not damaged, Jones said. Members of the township’s Recreation Board and other volunteers started cleaning up the decorations, including old wreaths, in July.

Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating.

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