Employee arrested for setting Fulton Moser's fire

Pamela J. Cordrey
Pamela J. Cordrey

An employee of Moser's Foods in Fulton has been arrested for first-degree arson after setting a fire Wednesday afternoon that temporarily closed the grocery store.

An investigation determined the fire was intentionally set in the basement of Moser's, according to a Fulton Police Department news release.

Pamela J. Cordrey - a store employee who was working at the time of the fire - was interviewed as part of the investigation.

Cordrey, 48, of Fulton, was arrested and taken to the Callaway County Jail, where she is being held without bond.

The FPD, Fulton Fire Department, Central Callaway Fire Protection District and Callaway County Ambulance District responded to the fire at Moser's, located at 2020 N. Business 54, at 2:07 p.m. Wednesday.

Crews entered the grocery store and reported moderate smoke inside, according to a news release from the Fulton Fire Department. They discovered the active fire in the basement - with the sprinkler system activated - and it was extinguished within minutes.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal's office was contacted to assist with the investigation.

Moser's reopened just before noon Thursday. The store received smoke and minor water damages, according to the FFD news release. The estimated financial loss was not known.

Store owner Roger Moser was not available for comment. Moser's opened in Fulton in 1982.

The investigation into the fire continues, according to the FPD news release.