One side of a duplex that was only feet away from the MTF Price Matters store in Murrayville was heavily damaged by fire on Saturday.
Both sides of the duplex, situated at 22617 Fraser Hwy., had been unoccupied for more than a year.
The fire, which was noticed a few minutes before 7 p.m., was likely caused by someone who was trying to strip the building of wires, said Township fire department spokesman Bruce Ferguson.
The culprits were not inside the duplex when firefighters arrived, he said, adding that the building had been boarded up for some time.
The west side of the duplex is only feet from the MTF building.
“It is very close to MTF, and if it (fire) had got hold, it could have caused damage” to the discount grocery store, Ferguson said.