Kentucky Food Pantry Fire Burns Down 100 Thanksgiving Turkeys, Woman Arrested For Arson

A Kentucky food pantry fire resulted in "total loss" after over 100 turkeys were burned down Saturday morning. The cops have arrested a woman in connection with the fire.

The blaze erupted right before 10 a.m. Sunday at the food bank located in Garrard County, WLEX-TV reported, citing Lancaster City Fire and Rescue. A woman, identified as Debra Smalling, suspected to have started the fire, was arrested subsequently.

Smalling was arraigned Monday. She faces charges including second-degree arson and first-degree criminal mischief.

Surveillance footage showed Smalling walking to the side of the building and rummaging through some cardboard and paper that was stacked up against the building, WDRB-TV reported. Smalling's arrest citation stated that she admitted to placing a lit cigarette on the items, causing the fire.

Co-director Angela Cash told the outlet that about 100 meals donated for Thanksgiving, including over a 100 turkeys, were completely destroyed in the fire. "We handed out over 1 million pounds of food out of this building," Gregory Cash, the director of the Garrard County Food Pantry, told the outlet. "It's a total loss right now. We lost everything."

Firefighters managed to contain the blazes, but couldn't save the building. "We're going to try and continue on as normal as we can, but it's going to take a lot of prayers and a lot of work, because, as you can see, we lost everything," Cash told WDRB-TV. "It's a mess right now. I'm still in shock. I don't know how to take it or what to say."

The visuals of the arson were shared on the pantry's Facebook page which showed thick smoke billowing from inside as firefighters scrambled to contain the damage.

Cash told Lex 18 that there were several gifts for children which were meant to be distributed during Christmas, which is just a month away. The pantry reportedly feeds about 400 seniors and 800 families a month. Police said Smalling regularly visited the pantry to collect food.

"Our community is suffering. We lost a very important place that so many depend on," Lancaster City Fire and Rescue said in a Facebook post. "Please keep Gregory Scott Cash and Angie Cash and all those in our community that depend on the pantry (in your prayers)."