2 fires in 4 days suspicious

Two fires in four days at a Salt Lake business that supplies materials needed for Texas Hold 'em poker games has investigators concerned.

The latest incident at Cards, Chips and More, 163 E. 300 South, was Tuesday about 9:30 p.m.

Two pedestrians noticed fire coming from inside the store. Firefighters arrived to find a pile of T-shirts, paper towels and other papers set on fire in the middle of the room, Salt Lake City Fire spokesman Scott Freitag said.

"It was definitely intentionality set," he said.

Damage was only estimated at $1,500. The business was already closed due to a fire Saturday.

In that incident, a small fire was discovered about 10:30 p.m. near some electrical equipment, Freitag said. The cause of that fire was still undetermined as of Wednesday. Damage was estimated at less than $1,000.

Investigators weren't sure Wednesday if Saturday's fire was the result of arson, but Freitag said it was something to be considered.

"With two fires being so close together, it makes the first one very suspicious, as well," he said.

Business owner Chris Shilts said he received two threatening calls on his mobile phone at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday. Both calls were from a man with a deep voice who said, "I will destroy everything you own. I will find and kill you," according to Shilts.

Investigators were still looking for a motive for the fire. Freitag said there was no evidence Wednesday supporting the notion that the business was targeted by people who may oppose gambling.

"There's no indication of that whatsoever," he said. "No one has claimed responsibility. It appears now to simply be an intentionally set fire in a business which also happens to be a place that sells poker chips and cards. As far as a crime related specifically to gambling, we don't have any indication of that right now."

Shilts said with the exception of the anonymous threatening phone calls, he did not know anyone who had a grudge against him.

He said he realized that some people in Utah objected to poker and gambling-type games. But Shilts didn't know if the fire was a personal attack on him, a random incident or committed by someone who wanted to make a statement against gambling.

"I can't say one way or the other," he said.

Although damage estimates from the fire department were less than $2,000 for each fire, Shilts estimated his losses, including damaged poker chips, T-shirts and display cases, at about $20,000.