State and local fire marshals are still investigating what caused a vacant building to go up in flames in Derby’s redevelopment zone Sunday morning.
Derby Fire Marshal Phil Hawks said investigators were not able to go inside the building after the fire because it wasn’t safe. The building, on Caroline Street close to Calvert Safe and Lock, has since been torn down.
Hawks said based on observations made as it came down, and on photographs taken during the three-alarm blaze, the fire probably started in the rear of the commercial structure, in the second floor area.
That’s the probable origin — but the cause remains elusive at this point.
The building was long vacant, and was purchased by the city as part of the ongoing plan to redevelop the area into a mix of residences and retail space.
There was no electricity or gas going into the building at the time of Sunday’s fire, which was reported about 5:15 a.m.
“We don’t know if it was a homeless person trying to keep warm inside there, or something else,” Hawks said.
No one was injured.
A less serious fire was reported in the building in September. That fire was thought to be caused by people squatting inside the building, firefighters said at the time.
