Customers not surprised by arson at Yucca Valley Walmart

A Yucca Valley Walmart is back open Friday after an early morning fire engulfed the outdoor living section in flames.

Authorities say 56-year-old Dennis Chance was seen on surveillance footage setting fire to cages of propane tanks.

Chance is now behind bars.

Frequent customers say they weren’t that surprised to hear the fire was arson.

“I wasn’t shocked at all really, it’s Walmart. Crazy things happen at Walmart all the time,” said Natasha Francis who lives in Yucca Valley.

Francis stopped by the store to take pictures after she heard it caught on fire.

“Its terrible. I’m not a big fan of Walmart, but still nothing like this should happen,” Francis said.

During the investigation authorities recognized Chance right away.

The fire was so massive flames engulfed the entire outdoor living section.

Firefighters were on scene within two minutes, when a call came in around 1:30 a.m.

They said it could have been a lot worse

“Those pressurized vessels as they heat up they can bleve, which is an explosion, many times at larger incidents. They were designed to vent and they worked properly,” Battalion Chief Rick Denison said.

Customers said the problem is the area’s homeless population.

“We do have a transient problem around Walmart. A lot of people riding their bikes around asking for money,” said Joe McKinney who lives in Yucca Valley.

“Oh there definitely is and there has been for years. And hopefully that gets taken care of soon. It’s unfortunate,” Francis said.

Firefighters said it’s frustrating because this fire could have been avoided.

“Everyone works hard in the construction of these properties and the public safety systems that are put in and that all that was taken for granted. There could have been someone seriously injured or killed in an event like this and there was absolutely no gain for anyone,” Denison said.

Walmart said it’s too soon to tell how extensive the damage was.