A suspicious three-alarm fire erupted inside Fast Lane Auto, 3112 Midway Drive, resulting in about $250,000 in damage Monday.
Flames erupted at about 4:30 a.m., according to officials. Traffic on Midway was closed for much of the day as investigators probed the cause of the blaze.
Along with parts of the building, a hallway full of magazines, books and printed material stacked about three to four feet high burned, causing heat and smoke damage to the building and surrounding equipment.
Some vehicles were also damaged, investigators said.
“It’s suspected to be arson, not confirmed, suspected to be arson, based on the evidence [investigators] have so far,” said Maurice Luque, San Diego Fire and Rescue Department spokesman.
Although the books and magazines presented a fire hazard, Luque said investigators have yet to determine cause of the fire.
At one point, 13 engines, five trucks and about 90 firefighters were on scene to handle the blaze.
“It was a pretty big one,” he said.
Witnesses reported seeing a man whose clothes were on fire fleeing the building just prior to the blaze, Luque said.
Investigators discovered the man is an employee of the business, and he has since been questioned by investigators, Luque said.
The investigation remains open, however, and no one in custody at this time, he said.