WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Back-to-back fires from April 20-21 that led to the destruction of the Wampanoag Country Club were "likely not intentionally set," according to West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest.
Priest said that a preliminary investigation into the early morning fires at Wampanoag Drive showed that the fires were likely not started on purpose and that the second fire on April 21 is believed to have been a continuation of the first on April 20.
Based on the findings of the investigation, Priest said that there is currently no threat to the public.
Priest said the preliminary findings were shared "for the benefit of public interest, transparency, and timely information" and that a "significant amount of time" must be taken for the investigations to consider additional evidence "before arriving at any final conclusions."
Priest said, "The continuation of any fire after it was believed to be extinguished is cause for concern, and our full investigation will seek to confirm the circumstances and conditions that led to a continuation of the fire, if that is in fact what occurred."
The investigation is being led by the West Hartford Fire Marshal's office, with assistance from the town's police department and the Connecticut State Police Fire Explosion and Investigative Unit.
No one was hurt in either of the fires over the weekend, according to Priest. Both were reported within nearly 24 hours of each of other, with the first at 2:10 a.m. and the second at 2:18 a.m.
After the first fire was extinguished, the second fire consumed a "majority of the structure" and caused partial structural collapses "throughout the entire building."
The cause of both is currently unknown.
Sean Humphrey is a Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at shumphrey@fox61.com.
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