Authorities Call Gallery Furniture Fire Arson

HOUSTON (AP) _ Officials say a fire at a well-known Houston furniture store that caused up to $20 million in damage is being investigated as an arson.

Robert Elder, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Response Team, said Thursday investigators have ruled out all accidental causes of the May 21 blaze at the warehouse at Gallery Furniture.

But Elder said because the investigation is ongoing, he could not comment on how the fire was started.

The store’s owner, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, is among Houston’s most successful entrepreneurs and one of its biggest philanthropists.

Elder said McIngvale has cooperated with the probe but until investigators know who started the blaze, no one is being eliminated as a suspect.

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