2010 fire Westfield Galleria at Roseville

aerial view of damage.

on october 21, 2010, @ around 10:30 am, major fire started in gamestop store result of arson. suspect had backpack (filled unknown items) , claimed have handgun when entered store. suspect claimed sister had been kidnapped aliens , told employees exit gamestop, @ point, barricaded himself in gamestop , set fire merchandise. swat, firemen , police arrived after call, , standoff occurred outside gamestop while mall evacuated. suspect, alexander piggee, 23 years old @ time, caught , arrested. bomb squad had tried search backpack, attempt stopped when fire unexpectedly erupted again, after having been quieted down sprinklers. fire caused significant damage part of mall, brought under control after approximately 4 hours. has been reported night before had set fire in antelope wal-mart , police searching him. piggee had set fire grandmother s house week before incident @ galleria mall. no injuries reported during these incidents.

extra firefighters nearby communities called in fight fire. total of 20 stores destroyed fire, including gamestop, anchor blue, fye, american eagle outfitters, , pacsun. section of roof collapsed fire area. damage estimated atf officials @ around $55 million. though majority of building left intact after fire, mall closed week. california governor arnold schwarzenegger declared state of emergency in placer county day after fire. roseville city officials have said many 40 stores in undamaged sections of mall reopened on thursday, october 28. 80 stores, including macy s re-opened thanksgiving , 40 stores near fire area plan reopened after first of year. on october 28 undamaged part of mall re-opened, , 2 days later party held @ mall celebrate reopening, halloween , support in rebuilding of mall. on october 6, 2011, mall unveiled renovation included new lighting, new ceiling decor, new carpet , railings, , officially reopened macy s wing mix of new tenants , returning stores.

alexander piggee subsequently pleaded guilty setting fire, , federal judge john mendez sentenced piggee 15 years, after on probation 6 years. both defense , prosecution attorneys had requested sentence of 10 years, mendez issued substantially longer sentence, calling piggee threat public safety.