Trisha Chain, with the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s office, said Thursday an investigation of the fire that destroyed the 27,000-squarefoot Escalated Greens on Jan. 9 is on-going.
There has been no determination yet as to the cause of the fire at 1200 Birkes Road.
Fire Chief Chad French said that he called the Fire Marshal’s office at the time of the fire, but because of the snow and ice an investigator didn’t arrive until the following day.
“I did ask for them the night of the fire. When no one is present and a fire of this magnitude we always call the fire marshal. Due to the bad weather, he wasn’t able to make it until the next morning.
“I was on scene for 24 hours. Once the scene is turned over to them, we have to maintain the scene until they get there,” French said.
He speculated that the cause of the fire may still be undermined because of a backlog at the Marshal’s office.
No one was injured in what is described as the largest fire in Eufaula since the burning of the high school in 1994 which caused almost $3 million in damages.
The school fire was caused by an arsonist who also burned the First Baptist Church and Church of Christ.
Investigators are looking into the cause of Thursday’s fire, which destroyed one of the city’s largest buildings, a 27,000 square foot structure where marijuana was grown, and medications manufactured.
Fire Chief Chad French estimated the damage at $3 million.
It is believed to have begun in the northwest corner of the building.
About 10 fire departments and Task Force 46 responded to the fire alarm.
There were 20 fire trucks and 46 firefighters on scene to fight the blaze.
“It took approximately six hours to extinguish the bulk of the fire,” French said.
