The Red and Black

Issue date: 6/26/09 Section: News

Media Credit: MICHAEL FITZPATRICK An ATF agent looks into the front doors of the Georgia Theatre. [Click to enlarge]

ACC Fire Report on Georgia Theatre

What started the fire at the Georgia Theatre June 19 is still a mystery, as investigators were unable to uncover the root cause to the gutting of the legendary music house.

"We exhausted every investigative lead that there is possible, and based upon our determination at this point and time, the only call we can make is undetermined," said Special Agent Dondi Albritton of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Response Team. "But that doesn't mean the investigation is closed. We have run every lead possible. There are some things we can't rule out but we have no choice but to say it's undetermined."

The fire started in the back right corner of the Theatre, where a dressing room and large closet are.

"Sometimes on fire investigations undetermined is a cause," said Assistant Chief Kyle Hendrix of the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department. "We would be remiss to call a fire a certain cause if we were not 100 percent sure That's the way the fire investigation business is."

Clayton and Lumpkin streets around the Theatre was opened back up, and a smaller crime tape perimeter was set up.

"We will contiinue to monitor the scene for any changes," Hendrix said. "[An investigation]that would have taken months to have happened, happened in about three days. We could not have asked for more than help that what we have received."

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