Police seek 'person of interest' in Bartlett fire

Police are looking for a "person of interest" in their probe of a fire they say was intentionally set inside a Tuesday Morning home good store in Bartlett.

Police, the DuPage County Fire Investigations Task Force and the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms determined Tuesday's fire was arson based on its origin and the extensive damage it caused.

"The initial investigation also concluded that an accelerant was used," Bartlett Police Sgt. Mike McGuigan said.

Witnesses saw a suspicious man lingering in the paper goods aisle shortly after the store opened at 10 a.m., said Bartlett Fire Protection District Chief Kevin Heine.

Police will only say they're seeking a man believed to be around the store shortly before the fire.

The person of interest is described as a white male in his late 20s to early 30s who is about 6-feet-2-inches tall and 190 pounds. Police believe he was driving an older model, mid-sized, dark-colored SUV.

The two-alarm blaze drew 85 firefighters from four departments. Two employees were in the store, located at Route 59 and Stearns Road, and neither was injured.

Firefighters worked in 90-degree heat and benefited from the Hanover Park Citizen's Emergency Response Team, which provided cooling stations in their on-scene unit.

"I was pleased," Heine said. "It went well, nobody got hurt and the building's still standing."

There was smoke and water damage to the two units adjacent to Tuesday Morning, Heine said. L.A. Tan sustained the most damage, while a 60-person cleaning crew helped Bannerman's Sports Grill reopen after seven hours. Excluding the 74 TVs, which might have to be replaced, owner Murray Friedman estimates at least $20,000 in damage.

Anyone with information should call Bartlett police at (630) 837-0846.