Arson Suspect Arrested After Fire Breaks Out at Calexico Walmart

A fire that broke out in the storage area behind the Calexico Walmart on March 18 sent customers scrambling out of the store and drew a 13-firefighter response before police announced the arrest of an arson suspect the same afternoon.

The Calexico Fire Department was first on the scene, joined by crews from the Holtville Fire Department. A reporter on scene initially described the fire as appearing to involve trash or debris behind the store. A later update identified the origin more specifically as the storage area outside the Walmart. By midday, firefighters had the blaze under control, with crews expected to wrap up work within two hours of that report.

The Calexico Police Department announced the arrest just after 5 p.m. on March 18. "An arson suspect has been arrested in connection to the fire at Walmart," the department said. No name, age, or formal charges have been released, and it remains unclear whether the suspect was a customer, an employee, or someone else on the premises at the time of the fire.

The Walmart store remained closed as of the announcement, with no reopening timeline given. The store "will remain closed until further notice," according to the update.

No injuries to customers, employees, or any of the 13 firefighters from Calexico and Holtville were reported in initial accounts. Damage estimates have not been released. Fire investigators have not yet publicly confirmed a final cause determination, and it is unclear which agency is leading the arson investigation.