Bastrop, Tx–Investigators from the state fire marshall’s office were in Bastrop Monday morning to begin their probe of a Friday evening fire which gutted a new home under construction on Church Street in the heart of the city’s historic residential district.
The investigators said so far there is no indication of anything beyond an accidental cause, but their first task would be to meet with the building contractor and an insurance company representative to discuss steps to shore up the burned out structure so investigators could go inside searching for clues to where and how the fire started in the 1500 block of Church Street.
Bastrop Fire Chief Henry Perry said the front of the new building was engulfed in flames when he arrived at the scene a few minutes after the fire was reported at 8:01 p.m. Friday. The structure was unoccupied, and residents at both the Orgain House and the Allen-Bell House closest to the construction site were not at home, according to early reports.
Investigators said it could be late this week before new results of the probe begin to emerge.