By MARY BAILEY The Reporter

An early morning fire destroyed a staple in the Boaz community.

The Boaz Police Department has labeled the fire arson.

According to Boaz Fire Chief Jeff Beck, the first call came around 12:48 a.m. on Monday morning.

“Units got on the scene around 12:53 a.m. Flames were coming out of the roof of 100 Roger Avenue, which used to be Mt. Vernon Market years ago,” Chief Beck said.

From his understanding, the building was not being used.

The fire not only affected the old store but the coin laundry right beside the store as well.

“It was a full loss on the building,” Chief Beck continued. “We reached out to Sardis Fire Department for help to use additional personnel and requested their aerial truck. There were no injuries to other homes or individuals.”

The Boaz Police Department was first on the scene and upon arrival Detective Ray Cumby spoke to witnesses and collected evidence. The fire was determined to be arson.

Arrest warrants were signed on Jomar Alexis Velazquez Gonzalez for Arson 2nd and Burglary 3rd and bond was set at $250,000.

Velazquez Gonzalez is currently in custody.