It may take as much as a week for investigators to conclude what caused the destructive fire at the historic church.
Investigators who looked through the burned remains of the church at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel had no “aha moment,” and it may take a week for findings about what caused the devastating early morning blaze, a fire department spokesman said Sunday, July 12.
The 4:45 a.m. Saturday fire destroyed the 249-year-old church’s wooden roof in 15 minutes, and its interior was burned up to the altar. Flames spread quickly because the church’s historical classification prevented the installation of sprinklers, said San Gabriel Fire Department Capt. Antonio Negrete.
Firefighters were forced to retreat when the roof fell around them. No injuries were reported among the 50 firefighters from several agencies who went to the scene.
Historical relics from the mission, stored as it underwent renovation for its 250th anniversary, were spared, as was its bell.
Investigators were at the scene until late Saturday, and likely will not return to the site Sunday, Negrete said.
“They collected what they thought might be pertinent,” he said. “They felt pretty comfortable leaving the scene yesterday.
