03/18/2009

Associated Press

Arson is suspected in an overnight fire that destroyed three stores in a strip mall in the small southwest Missouri town of Stockton.

Cedar County deputies and the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office started an investigation Wednesday of the blaze, which gutted a tobacco store, pizza shop and a video store. Stockton Fire chief Hank Smith said most of the damage was contained to the inside of the structure.

No serious injuriees were reported.

Stockton is about 50 miles northwest of Springfield.

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Information from: KTTS-FM, http://www.ktts.com