Meagan Pollnow
Enquirer staff writer

Woodlawn and Lockland firefighters discuss the possible cause of a fire that heavily damaged three businesses Tuesday. The Enquirer/GLENN HARTONG

LOCKLAND - Police detectives and firefighters are calling a Tuesday morning fire that damaged three businesses at Wyoming and Cooper avenues suspicious.

Eight firetrucks from four departments were called to the scene around 4:45 a.m. to extinguish a fire at a one-story building divided into four stores. Three - an auto repair shop, a candy store and a vacant store - were damaged.

The fire started on the roof of D&D Candyland and spread to the two other businesses. Police on patrol noticed the fire and called for help. Firefighters quickly put out the blaze.

Firefighters on the scene Tuesday said it might have been caused by arson. An arson-investigating dog spent much of the day around the scene and on the roof with his human handler.

Firefighters reported seeing gas cans around the scene but Woodlawn Fire Chief Rick Mynatt said he hadn't seen the cans and couldn't confirm if they had anything to do with the fire.

If arson is determined to be the cause, it would be the second in Lockland in six weeks.

In May, an arson fire damaged the former Stearns & Foster mattress factory.

Lockland Police Detective Todd Ober said police spent the day collecting evidence and will resume the investigation this morning.

"It's been a long day," he said. "We've still got a lot to go."

Ober said police had no suspects and had not questioned anyone.

Tenants crowded around the caution tape surrounding the water-soaked and blackened building most of the day, trying to figure out how much damage their businesses sustained.

Rich Grove, owner of Rich Grove Automotive, was surprised to find his business suffered only minor damage.

"I thought the whole place was burning down when I saw all those firetrucks," Grove said.

A water-soaked carpet, a few tiles coming off the ceiling and a broken door must be repaired before he can open for business, but Grove said he doesn't think that will take very long.

Since he moved in three years ago, Grove said this is the second time he's avoided disaster. Roughly a year and a half ago, flooding made the roof next to Grove's business collapse, destroying the building. Through both incidents, his business remained.

"That part of the building fell down and now this part burned down," he said.

"We're very fortunate."