Gallery Furniture Unveils Sculpture
Gallery Furniture Warehouse Caught Fire May 21
POSTED: Friday, July 3, 2009
UPDATED: 6:13 pm CDT July 3,
2009
HOUSTON -- A sculpture dedicated to firefighters was unveiled at Gallery Furniture the day before the store reopens following a four-alarm fire that destroyed its warehouse, KPRC Local 2 reports.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the fire at Gallery Furniture's warehouse at 6006 North Freeway on May 21 was intentionally set.
The fire gutted the warehouse, destroying it and the millions of dollars worth of furniture inside. Damage is estimated to be between $15 million and $25 million.
The fire did not spread to the store's main showroom, but the sprinklers inside it went off and caused extensive damage. Dozens of customers were inside the showroom when the fire started. No one was injured.
More than 120 firefighters from 31 HFD stations fought the blaze. A sculpture was placed outside the store to forever thank them for their efforts. It was made from warehouse ruins.
"I kept watching them come out of the fire, exhausted by the heat, exhausted from the work they were doing, yet they never complained," McIngvale said. "They just worked and worked and worked. At the end of the day, they saved the world's greatest furniture store."
The store was set to reopen to the public on July 4. Owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale said the store and warehouse would reopen in phases. He hopes to have the project completed by his 59th birthday in February.
In June, McIngvale announced that he was donating $10,000 gift certificates to each station through the
Adopt-A-Fire Station Program.
Previous Stories: - June 4, 2009: Gallery Furniture's Future Revealed
- May 29, 2009: Residents Stunned Fire Ruled Arson
- May 28, 2009: Gallery Furniture Fire Ruled Arson
- May 27, 2009: 'Mattress Mack' Meets With Boy Donor
- May 27, 2009: 'Mattress Mack' Searches For Donor
- May 25, 2009: USO Barbecues For Gallery Furniture
- May 24, 2009: McIngvale Tours Fire Damage
- May 24, 2009: USO Helps Gallery Furniture
- May 22, 2009: McIngvale Known For Charitable Work
- May 22, 2009: Fire Guts Gallery Furniture Warehouse
- May 22, 2009: 'Mattress Mack' Tapes New Ad
- May 21, 2009: 4-Alarm Fire Engulfs Gallery Furniture
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