Debris at 833 H Street Tuesday. Photos by Sage Alexander


Update, 2:20 p.m.:

Matt Morgan, Eureka’s Code Enforcement Manager, tells the Outpost the property owner aims to remove the debris by the end of April. Morgan said the volume of rubble is a logistical challenge to dispose of, but the owner is in communication with city officials and has taken steps like adding straw wattles and caution tape to the site.

Plus, according to Morgan, “his plan is to build back on the spot.” 

PREVIOUSLY:

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A fire that took out an apartment building under renovation in January has been determined to be human-caused. But key details remain unknown on what happened before the raging blaze consumed the structure.

Humboldt Bay Fire forwarded the report to the Eureka Police Department as possible arson after wrapping up the investigation on 833 H Street about two weeks ago.

“We have confirmed that the fire was human-caused. We don’t know if it was accidental or if it was intentional,” said HBF Battalion Chief Johnathan Chambers.

He said the investigation found there were otherwise no competent ignition sources; utilities were not connected to the site.

The building was under construction, which lead to the exposed framing to burn rapidly at an intensity Chambers said he’s only seen a handful of times in his career.

The Jan. 31 fire was so rapid and strong — flames were bursting from windows on the second floor when firefighters arrived at 1:21 a.m. — determining a fire pattern or finding physical evidence to shed more light on the fire from the wreckage was impossible, he said.

But firefighters and police are seeking more information to find out what exactly happened. “It is still open, from our perspective,” he added.

Humboldt Bay Fire heard some unsubstantiated reports of people hearing noises or seeing people in the building before the fire; Chambers urged residents “if you observe suspicious activity, and buildings are under construction, call law enforcement right away.” Fires in construction sites are not entirely uncommon, he said.

The fire caused an estimated $350,000 in damages; efforts of firefighters limited the damage to the one structure. HBF has yet to be contacted by insurance agents for the property, which Chambers said typically happens following a fire.

Eureka Police Department spokesperson Rachel Sollom encouraged anyone with information related to this incident to contact EPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.