Columbia Noodles & Company fire under investigation | Mid-Missouri News [Video]

The Columbia Fire Department released reports Friday from a fire that happened at Noodles & Company on Ninth Street last month.

The report deemed the fire as “incendiary,” meaning it was done for the purpose of damage, or arson. 

“Incendiary, as far as the report is involved, speaks to the negligent actions of whoever was involved with the fire in the exterior of the building,” Assistant Fire Chief Jeffrey Heidenreich said.

Heidenreich said the department is still looking for information regarding who was in the area the evening of March 16, the night before the fire occurred.

According to Heidenreich, the fire started in a burn barrel that got out of hand. 

“A subject negligently started a warming fire too close to the structure,” the report says. “The fire spread to the exterior of the structure. The fire then burned its way to the interior of the structure, causing significant fire damage.” 

The report later notes that a homeless person(s) was involved. 

An …