Surveillance footage shows potential arson at Denver South Broadway business
The shop owner’s surveillance footage at 2:28 a.m. shows a man in a black t-shirt lighting a match on the lower part of the store's window
In what is potentially an act of arson, surveillance footage submitted to The Denver Gazette shows a man kneeling outside the doors of ReFillanthropy before a fire was reported at the location.
That fire burned the inside of the small business in the South Broadway neighborhood on Tuesday.
The fire closed the business for good, according to the shop owner.
ReFillanthropy is located on the northeast corner of Bayaud Avenue and Broadway. Business owners and residents have said the area is a hotbed for open drug use, vandalism and violence.
ReFillanthropy owner Vesper Holly opened her shop to “zero-waste” products, such as “sustainable housewares” and bulk refills of “eco-friendly” cleaning products and natural personal care items.
Denver fighters arrived at the business around 4:45 a.m., where they found fire and smoke coming from the first floor of the building, according to the fire department. The fire was quickly extinguished.
A resident of the upper floor buildings told Denver Gazette news partner 9News that several residents were evacuated from the building.
No injuries were reported, according to the fire department.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, a department spokesperson said.
Holly confirmed the business is closing for good after Tuesday’s fire, coinciding with the store posting “closing soon” signs on the front window prior.
The shop owner’s surveillance footage at 2:28 a.m. shows a man in a black T-shirt lighting a match on the lower part of the store’s window, bending down for a minute, and then leaving.
Authorities haven’t confirmed whether the fire was a result of arson.
The fire’s aftermath showed a large hole of broken glass on the lower part of the store’s front window, where many of the shop’s items were left destroyed and charred on the ground.
In a previous interview, Holly told The Denver Gazette her store had been constantly vandalized, including another fire that was set on the store’s front door earlier this year.
“It was really disheartening,” Holly said at the time of that fire. “I honestly talked to my partner about potentially closing.”
The area, she added, “it’s just not fostering a feeling of safety.”‘
Holly on Wednesday launched a GoFundMe page to help recover from her business fire.
