Bryant shoe store destroyed in fire

A fire broke out at a shoe store in a Bryant shopping center Sunday morning. No injuries were reported.

Crews were called at 8:28 a.m. Sunday to the Shoe Carnival in the Alcoa Shopping Center just off Interstate 30.

Additional firefighters from Little Rock, Collegeville and Benton assisted the Bryant Fire Department to help put out the fire.

Sgt. Todd Crowson, Bryant Police Department spokesman, said that by the time he arrived on the scene around 10 a.m. Sunday the fire was under control.

Although the fire was contained to the Shoe Carnival, neighboring businesses -- Rue 21 on its left and Old Navy on its right -- have damage from smoke and water.

Crowson said Rue 21 had more water damage than Old Navy.

The stores had not opened when the fire started, he said.

Unlike Shoe Carnival, which Crowson said was "a total loss," Rue 21 and Old Navy will reopen at an unspecified date.

Alcoa Shopping Center had anticipated hundreds of shoppers Sunday for final back-to-school sales, he said.

"It's never a good time," said Crowson of the fire, "but this was really not a good time."

Damage estimates for all of the businesses are unclear, he said.

The cause of the fire has not been identified, Crowson said, and the investigation is ongoing.

State Desk on 08/17/2015

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