BISMARCK, N.D. – At 4:49 AM, Wednesday, January 15, 2013, the Bismarck Fire Department
responded to a report of a fire and smoke in the ceiling area of a business at 2700 State Street,
the Gateway Fashion Mall. The owner of BC Bagels had come in early to start preparation for
the business day, and started up a vent system. He reportedly heard noise coming from the fan
before it quit operating, and he called 911 after finding smoke and flames in the ceiling area near
the vent.

Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke coming from the roof area above BC Bagels, but no fire
was visible from the exterior. Firefighters gained entry to where the business owner had reported
the fire’s location. The fire was in the vent system for the cooking area of the business, and had
started to extend to the roof. Firefighters accessed the fire both from inside the business and
from the roof, and extinguished the fire with minimal damage to the structure.

Firefighters remained on scene after the fire was extinguished to ventilate light smoke that was
present in the food court area and the surrounding mall areas.

The fire appears to have been started by an overheated electric motor. There was damage to the
vent system, and the surrounding roof area.

Preliminary fire loss estimate to the business and contents is $10,000. The cause of the fire appears to have been accidental, and electrical in
nature.