Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office and state Fire Marshal’s Office investigating suspicious fire that destroyed a Chalmette miniature car and racing business operating out of old parish Vista gym

St. Bernard Parish’s Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office, as well as the state Fire Marshal’s Office, are involved in the investigation of an early Monday morning suspicious fire which destroyed a miniature vehicle and racing business operating out of the old Vista Park playground gym owned by the parish, authorities said.

Fire Chief Thomas Stone said the blaze, reported about 3:20 a.m. by a resident who said they thought they heard an explosion, was under control by firefighters within 45 minutes.

No one was injured.

Stone said the fire was largely confined to a room that formerly was the concession stand when the gym was open but for the last year has housed a business leasing the space as the Victory Lane hobby business. The business sold and rented miniature, mostly remote controlled, vehicles and held races inside the gym. The gym had some fire damage, the fire chief said.

“They lost all their inventory,’’ in the fire, Chief Stone said.

The fire chief also said the cause of the blaze is under investigation and said the state fire Marshal’s Office was brought in because the building is owned by parish government.

Sheriff’s detectives are also investigating the break-in of the business.

Anyone with information in the case should call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 and they could be eligible for a reward if they have information which leads to an arrest.