Photo by Ben Hensley | Workers sort through piles of damaged donations Monday morning, as the fire department and law enforcement look to determine the cause of the blaze.

A third fire has struck Fresno Mission’s Thrift store on Sierra Avenue near Herndon Avenue, prompting CEO Matt Dildine to release a statement on Facebook suggesting that the incidents are targeted and not accidental.

“In the 15 years since we’ve been operating, we’ve never had a fire. Now we’ve had three in two weeks,” Dildine said in a statement posted Sunday after another fire. “It is my personal belief that this is not random…these are intentional and targeted acts by someone who is an arsonist.”

All three fires have been at different times and in different locations around the property. The latest took place on Sunday afternoon.

Dildine noted the thrift store’s important role in funding services for the homeless and those in recovery from addiction.

All store profits go directly back into programs that provide food, shelter and job training — both for Fresno Mission clients and partner organizations like Breaking the Chains and Light House Recovery Center.

“We don’t want to turn any donations away,” Dildine said, acknowledging concerns about aesthetics outside the store. “Every shirt, chair, or Halloween decoration helps rescue someone from crisis.”

 

He said there is a significant financial impact of the fires, and he asked the community for support through prayer, future donations and shopping once the store reopens.

Fresno Mission has recently expanded its operations, which now include a new location at First Street and Bullard Avenue, as well as a 30,000-square-foot warehouse for donation processing.

Dildine ended his statement with appreciation for the Fresno Fire Department for its quick response in all three incidents.

Donations can be made on the Fresno Mission website.