Walmart spokesperson calls suspicious fire at Waterloo store ‘act of arson’

The exterior of a Walmart store on Bridgeport Road East and an image of a person of interest in a fire investigation.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service has released an image of a person of interest after a fire inside a Walmart store in Waterloo’s Bridgeport Plaza.

Emergency services were called to Bridgeport Road East and Weber Street North around 10 p.m. Sunday.

Police confirmed a fire had ignited within the store, but gave no details about what parts of the store were involved or how the fire started. The extent of the damage is also not known.

The flames were extinguished by members of the Waterloo Fire Department.

No one was hurt.

On Monday night, police released an image of a masked male. They said investigators are trying to identify and speak with that person as part of the investigation.

“This was a criminal act of arson that will unfortunately and unfairly impact our customers, associates and the local community who rely on the store,” a Walmart spokesperson told CTV News, in an email.

On Monday afternoon, a sign on the door said the store was closed temporarily.

Walmart said it will take all appropriate steps to hold the arsonist accountable, including assessing legal options to recover damages.

It is unclear when the store will reopen as they work on clean-up and repairs, but officials hope to welcome back customers as soon as possible.

“While we work with officials to ensure the store is safe and up to the standards our customers expect and deserve,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information is asked contact police.

In October 2020, the Bridgeport Plaza Walmart was one of three locations targeted in a string of arson fires.

In 2021, a Paris, Ont. man plead guilty to setting all three fires.

He was later sentenced to 18 months in jail and also apologized in court.

At the time, police said the fires were started in the toilet paper and paper towel aisles.

It’s estimated the 2020 fires caused $12 million in damage to three Walmart locations.