The Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office has found "no signs or evidence" of tampering at The Marquee at Cedar Lee, the construction site of an apartment complex in Cleveland Heights that was engulfed by a fire on Jan. 24. FOX8 reported that structural and electrical engineers had evaluated the building to the extent possible, given the extent of the damage. Fire investigators and structural engineers are awaiting the go-ahead to inspect the building's upper floors further, specifically its north wing, which faces Cedar Road, but a timeline for this has not been established.
Dozens of witness interviews have been conducted, including those with 911 callers, construction workers, and security company representatives, to piece together the events that led to the blaze. According to WKYC, investigators have also reviewed hours of video footage and utilized drone technology to create a 3D scan of the structure. Despite these thorough efforts, the cause of the fire at the $66 million project, originally slated for completion later this year, remains elusive.
The Fire Marshal's Office, collaborating with the Cleveland Heights Fire Department and its Fire Investigation Unit, along with other local and federal agencies, continued to delve into the possible causes of the fire. As stated by Cleveland19, the fire did not spread to nearby buildings and, fortunately, resulted in no injuries. The fire left the 74,230 square-foot building "unsalvageable," said Cleveland Heights Fire Chief James Harry, and now must be demolished.
Despite the setback, Cleveland Heights' Mayor Kahlil Seren committed to rebuilding the complex. Information relevant to the fire is being sought urgently, and the State Fire Marshal’s tip line and Cleveland Heights Fire Investigation Unit are available for anyone with insights that could aid the investigation. Officials are asking community members to come forward with any information by calling the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728 or the Cleveland Heights Fire Investigation Unit at 216-291-2291, ensuring that callers can remain anonymous and that all tips will be "thoroughly investigated," according to FOX8 News.
