Smoke was still billowing from the remains of the 102-year-old Sagamore Hotel yesterday, keeping state police fire marshals from investigating what may have started the blaze that destroyed the landmark hotel.
"I didn't expect to find this," said Trooper Jeff Crede, a state police fire marshal based out of Butler. "We've got to get the fire put out first (before an investigation can begin.)"
Rural Valley Fire Department Chief Bill Rupert said yesterday the fire, which was called in to 911 shortly after 1 a.m. yesterday, possibly started on the third floor, but quickly spread throughout the building.
He said fire crews from nearby Plumville arrived first and unsuccessfully attempted to get a hand line to the fire. Firefighters did not have a floor plan of the building, and felt it was too dangerous to be in the burning building without some idea of how to get in and out of it, Rupert said.