Girl, 14, arrested in connection with massive Walmart fire

Three police officers were hospitalised for smoke inhalation while battling the blaze in Peachtree City, Georgia

A 14-year-old girl has been arrested in connection with a fire that extensively damaged a Walmart store in Peachtree City, Georgia, police say.

Firefighters responding to a 911 call at the store on West Highway 54 at about 7.20pm on 24 August arrived to find the building well ablaze.

Customers captured dramatic images of flames and thick black smoke shooting up from fully engulfed shelves packed with paper products.

Bodycam footage released by the Peachtree City Police Department showed officers rushing through the store evacuating it of staff and customers.

Three officers from the Peachtree City Police Department were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Firefighters from four departments battled the fire until eventually bringing it under control around 4am.

A preliminary investigation found that the fire had been deliberately lit in the paper products aisle, Peachtree City Police said in a statement provided to The Independent.

They had identified a suspect through video evidence and a 14-year-old girl had been arrested and charged with first degree arson. Her name has not been released.

No motive has been established for the suspected arson.

Walmart said in a statement it was grateful for the efforts of first responders.