So my store almost burned down...

[Willowe]

I wasn't going to post about this because I thought it would be a fairly quickly resolved issue, but as more information is coming out I think it's going to be awhile before everything gets back to normal.

I work in a fabric store in a fairly large shopping plaza. On one side of us is a "General of Dollars" store that, this past Friday, caught on fire. I wasn't working at the time (thank god) but our store sustained pretty bad smoke damage and I was told Saturday that no one is allowed in the store until further notice. So basically, I don't have a job at the moment.

Now as more news reports are being released, I'm finding out that the other store was intentionally set on fire by a guy lighting the paper products on fire. The fire then spread to the canned hairsprays () and the store was basically lost. It took over an hour for the fire to get under control and the "General of Dollars" store doesn't have a roof anymore.

And now my regional manager is offering all of us shifts at other stores until ours is back up and running, which I'm definitely appreciative of (although my limited availability due to classes means I probably won't get any shifts) but it makes me wonder just how long he's expecting our store to be out of commission. I'm hoping it's not too long, but right now we have zero information on what's going on. I'm just hoping that it just smoke damage and not structural problems, because if it's the latter it could be awhile before I'm back at work.

[Sandman]

Maybe try civilly suing the arsonist for lost wages?

[Shyla]

That's horrible. Unfortunately, your best bet may be to look for another job. It could be a long time or your store could be declared unstable. I'm sorry.

[registerrodeo]

I saw that on the news..guy was lucky no one was hurt or killed. When the small shopping plaza in my neck of our woods went up a few years ago, some stores were opened in a few days, some took longer, some, well, they just never opened back up but they were small independents that just went elsewhere. Best wishes to you and your co workers

[registerrodeo]

oh, and you can apply for unemployment while you are off

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

The swamp suffered smoke and water damage to merchandise when the attached strip mall burned down over 25 years ago.

Fire started in the ceiling and spread because there were no sprinklers or fire breaks in the ceiling. The swamp itself had fire doors that kept the flames out.

Will never forget that day--July 4, 1987. My mom worked at the swamp at that time, and came home from work early telling us about the fire. So we drove over there and watched. Huge plumes of black smoke rising into the air.

[XCashier]

That's terrible. I'm glad nobody was hurt, but still, four stores damaged and lots of people out of work. And all the chump has to say is "sorry"?! I hope they give him the maximum.

Willowe, I'd suggest you apply to my store if we weren't on opposite sides of the continent. We're still hiring, as far as I know. I sure hope you can find something soon, or at least unemployment. I wish you the best of luck.

[bainsidhe]

Holy crap. A couple years ago a local dollar store was a total loss due to arson. Someone set the store on fire to distract people while they shoplifted. Seriously, WTF is wrong with people?

Best of luck getting extra shifts.

[notalwaysright]

Scary. The discount department store in our shopping complex caught fire years ago. No major damage, but what freaked me out was that it was an electrical fire which started in the ceiling. The whole shopping center is attached, so I feel like this could happen to us, too.

Anyway, I hope you find another job.

[carryonnow]

A couple of years ago, the store where I work was hit by a tornado. During the three month long rebuild, the managers were schlepped off to other locations to "earn their keep." While the hourly associates were left in limbo. Most hourly associates didn't realize that they were entitled to collect unemployment insurance during the time that they were out of work.

In this situation you are entitled to file for unemployment because it isn't your fault that you are unable to work. DO NOT LET A DM or RM tell you otherwise. Contact your local employment agency and get the facts from them. Ultimately, the money paid out to claimants will be rolled into the insurance claim for the damage caused by the fire.

[Willowe]

Thanks for the comments and advice everyone I'm definitely hopeful that the store will be open again soon- but I'm also not putting all my hopes on that and I'll be looking into filing unemployment and/or job hunting as well.

Either way hopefully I hear something concrete soon. I'll most likely post here when/if I do.

[Gilhelmi]

I looked up the article because I wanted to know why (police said it will come out in court).

Why, why start a fire in a dollar store?

I am very glad you are OK and no one was hurt.

[Geek King]

Why, why start a fire in a dollar store?

Because some men just want to see the world burn. [/Alfred]

[bainsidhe]

Most hourly associates didn't realize that they were entitled to collect unemployment insurance during the time that they were out of work.

Thank you, this is a very good point. Also, ask them about receiving unemployment for reduced hours. Let's say you're able to pick up and work one or two shifts. Unemployment may also kick in to cover the reduction in hours due to this situation.

[taxguykarl]

Maybe try civilly suing the arsonist for lost wages?

Chances are the money's not there (i.e. in the arsonist's account). At best you'll secure a judgement which one commentator (I can't recall who) likened a judgement to a fishing license: There is no guarantee of catching a bass--but you have the legal right to try. Maybe try to get on a small-claims show, the arsonist's honorarium will go to your judgement--it's probably the only way you'll collect.
If and when you put in for unemployment, ask for federal and state withholding. Every other client of mine who owed did not do that--you'll thank me later (like some time before 4/15).