Fire at storage units on Highway 49 was deliberately set, fire chief says

A fire that damaged more than 30 units at Safe Mini Storage on Thursday was deliberately set, the Gulfport Fire Chief says.

Gulfport Fire Department received a call around 4 a.m. August 1 from a passerby saying heavy smoke was coming from  the Safe Mini Storage on Highway 49.

Chief Billy Kelley said the fire originated in one of the climate controlled units in the middle of the building, and a common attic allowed the fire to spread quickly to other units, destroying half of the building.

Kelley said the north side of the building was saved, but the climate-controlled units and those on the south wide were destroyed.

The fire chief said they have identified a suspect — someone who had a rental unit at the storage facility.

More than 30 firefighters from the overnight and day crew worked the fire, which destroyed 30 to 40 units.