Suspected arson fire badly damages community post office west of Reno

RENO -- Vandals are suspected of setting a fire Sunday morning that caused major damage to a Reno area post office and shut it down.

U.S. Postal Inspector Steve Hofheins told the Reno Gazette-Journal that the building in Verdi, a community of 1,400 located along Interstate 80 about 10 miles west of Reno, may be a total loss. He said no mail was burned, but some mail sustained water damage from firefighters' efforts.

The suspect or suspects probably were familiar with the area, Hofheins said, but they didn't enter the post office.

"The building was secured. There are bars on the windows," he said. "It appears something was thrown through the window in the back. ... The post office boxes are in the front of the building and the fire damage is in the back."

A neighbor reported hearing four gunshots behind the post office about
4:30 a.m. and calling 911. Howard Zunino, owner of the River Belle Market, said he then heard other noises behind the post office before he saw smoke.

Zunino said he'll turn over surveillance video shot from outside his store to authorities to determine whether it has any evidence. Washoe County sheriff's investigators will inspect the video.

A fire inspector from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the cause of the blaze.

The Peavine Post Office in Reno will handle Verdi mail until a decision is made about the fate of the building, said Jerry DePaoli, manager of postal operations in Reno.

"We'll look at options," he said. "Is the building salvageable? How long will it take to repair? Or can we get back in?"

Verdi Postmaster Marjorie Grizzle said the post office had not been vandalized before.

"We're in shock," she said.