The fire at the Frostee Freeze at Clovis and Balch was started shortly after the restaurant had closed for the night.
"Someone broke in while an employee was closing up, they broke in and stole some things then lit a fire," said Koby Johns with the Fresno Fire department.
The suspect ran off. And the employee called for help.
So did people who were nearby.
Rajinder Singh Basi was working at a gas station next door.
"Customers say it's smoking outside," Basi said.
He says customers who spotted smoke coming from the restaurant called 9-1-1.
The fire crews who responded to the Frostee Freeze Monday night had put out some of the other fires there the past few weeks, including one in the drive-through.
"They knew this fire was coming," Johns said.
Fresno Fire spokesman Koby Johns said the fire fighters knew the arsonist was deliberate. So they had walked through the restaurant after one of the earlier fires. They knew what to expect and how to plan their attack on any future fire here.
"So when the smoke was to the floor and there was a fire burning they knew their way around there, which is an incredible advantage when you're racing against the clock to put this thing out before it kills you," Johns said.
No one was hurt in the fire.
An arson dog was brought in to search for exactly where the fire started and where accelerant like lighter fluid or gas might have been used.
"Someone broke in while an employee was closing up, they broke in and stole some things then lit a fire," said Koby Johns with the Fresno Fire department.
The suspect ran off. And the employee called for help.
So did people who were nearby.
Rajinder Singh Basi was working at a gas station next door.
"Customers say it's smoking outside," Basi said.
He says customers who spotted smoke coming from the restaurant called 9-1-1.
The fire crews who responded to the Frostee Freeze Monday night had put out some of the other fires there the past few weeks, including one in the drive-through.
"They knew this fire was coming," Johns said.
Fresno Fire spokesman Koby Johns said the fire fighters knew the arsonist was deliberate. So they had walked through the restaurant after one of the earlier fires. They knew what to expect and how to plan their attack on any future fire here.
"So when the smoke was to the floor and there was a fire burning they knew their way around there, which is an incredible advantage when you're racing against the clock to put this thing out before it kills you," Johns said.
No one was hurt in the fire.
An arson dog was brought in to search for exactly where the fire started and where accelerant like lighter fluid or gas might have been used.