According to Monroe Fire Department, local and state fire investigators have completed their investigation of the Captain D's fire at 1013 W. Spring St. Monroe in the early morning and it has been ruled accidental in nature.
"The fire has been deemed accidental/probable electrical in nature," said Monroe Fire Department spokesman Lt. William Owens. "The fire started in the office area of the restaurant where it spread into the attic and roof."
Crime Scene investigators and utility workers from the city of Monroe were on hand Sunday morning to begin the investigation and cleanup following the early morning fire. Crews responded to the fire after calls began coming in at 1:10 a.m., according to officials, but the fire was too heavily involved to save the building. Nobody was in the building at the time and no injuries were reported.
Owens said despite the large number of investigators sent to the site, it was standard practice.
"They have to investigate the cause of the fire. It's a state law that requires it," Owens said, adding that there were only three official fire investigators on the scene. "The rest are there for support. The reason there are so many is that it is such a large structure as well as the extent of the damage."
In the meantime, detours have been set up on Spring Street to guide traffic around the site. Motorists are urged to use caution during cleanup operations.
