Fire, deemed suspicious, damages Bluffton Salvation Army thrift store + video

An investigation continues into the cause of a "suspicious" fire that destroyed the contents of a Bluffton thrift store early Sunday.

The S.C. Law Enforcement Division and Beaufort County Sheriff's Office are working to determine how a blaze started at the Salvation Army store on U.S. 278 shortly before 5:30 a.m., causing fire and smoke damage to the structure.

Maj. Bryan Tatterson, commanding officer of The Salvation Army of the Lowcountry, said he believed rumors of postings on social media about the fire contributed to officers deeming the fire suspicious, although he said he did not have more information about the investigation.

"At this point, we still don't know if it was struck by lightning," he added.

"It would be better to think that," store manager Amber Hewitt said.

Though much of the store was emptied during sales on Thursday and Friday, Tatterson said it had been completely restocked before it was closed for the weekend.The store was supposed to open next on Tuesday.

"We're assuming that everything is ruined," said Tatterson, who had only been able to look through the back door of the building by midday. "Once it gets that (smoke) smell on it, it doesn't matter how it looks. It's ruined."

Tatterson said it was "heartbreaking" to think that someone may have sparked the fire on purpose, considering the Salvation Army's dedication to helping those in need, including victims of home fires.

Lt. Brian Baird of the Sheriff's Office said he was not aware of social media postings related to the fire.

Additional details would be available after SLED's arson investigators finish forensic analysis of the store, he said.

Check back for updates.

This story was originally published September 6, 2015 at 9:04 AM with the headline "Fire, deemed suspicious, damages Bluffton Salvation Army thrift store + video."