Spencer, IA (KICD) — It’s unlikely the cause of the Grand Avenue fire earlier this year that displaced multiple upstairs apartment dwellers and main floor businesses will ever be known. As we reported last month, the cause will be listed as “unknown”, and State Fire Marshall Investigator Andrew Griere says the investigation is officially completed, but that it could always be reopened if new information is discovered.

It WAS possible to confirm that the blaze started in apartment five – that’s the back, upstairs apartment at 215 Grand Avenue – where it was first spotted. But extensive damage makes it impossible to determine exactly HOW it started.

Firefighters were on the scene for over eight hours on that Sunday and were successful in containing the blaze to its original building. Four connected structures received enough smoke and water damage that they remain vacant over three months later.