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14-year-old girl charged with arson after fire destroys Walmart

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — A teenage girl is facing charges one week after police said she intentionally set a fire inside a Walmart that caused substantial damage to the building.

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The fire started in the Peachtree City Walmart just after 7 p.m. on Aug. 24, Peachtree City Fire Department Chief Wilbur Harbin told WSB-TV.

Photos released by the fire and police departments show extensive damage to the store, with charred shelves holding items left unrecognizable by the fire. In a Facebook post sharing the photos, officials said crews were battling the fire until 4 a.m., and three police officers who responded to the scene were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

Body camera footage obtained by WSB-TV shows the moments after Peachtree police officers went into the burning building to search for any customers who could be trapped inside. Officers can be heard shouting, “Anybody in here? Everybody out!” in the video. No customers were injured.

While police told WSB-TV that a 14-year-old girl was arrested on arson charges, her name has not been released.

Part of the store’s roof was damaged by the fire, forcing it to remain closed.