FAYETTEVILLE -- Finding the cause of a large warehouse fire over the weekend could take weeks or months, a Fayetteville Fire Department official said Monday.
No electricity was on in the three unoccupied buildings at 1396 W. Pettigrew St., in south Fayetteville, when they caught fire around 5 a.m. Saturday, said Capt. Will Beeks, who's also an assistant fire marshal. Much of the structures "burned to the ground," Beeks said, complicating the investigation. Firefighters took samples for the state Crime Laboratory to test for ignitable fluids.
Arson is a possibility, he said.
"We're still trying to check into lightning," Beeks said, noting a few storms came through the area.
Extinguishing the blaze took about two and a half hours. No one was reported injured.
Red Spot LLC owns the property, which was assessed at a value of $92,400, according to county property records. The area's overgrown, and the structures weren't well maintained or used regularly, Battalion Chief Mauro Campos said. Some of the buildings had old wood stored inside and burned readily, Beeks said.
Finding out if lightning struck the area could take a few days, Beeks said, while the Crime Lab tests could take weeks or months. Fayetteville Police are also talking to nearby residents, he said.
NW News on 09/01/2015