https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/04/19/san-jose-authorities-identify-man-accused-of-igniting-home-depot-fire/

A man accused of lighting a fire that ended up destroying a Home Depot — and also blanketed a South San Jose neighborhood in noxious smoke and burned so hot that it triggered weather satellites — was trying to create a diversion while he made off with a cart full of stolen tools, authorities said Tuesday.

The five-alarm fire quickly grew into a conflagration and forced hundreds to flee the store and nearby businesses and homes. The fire raised questions about the building’s fire-response systems, after witnesses reported the fire alarms did not sound until nearly everyone was outside, and that the store’s sprinklers did not appear to activate.