The fire was investigated by a multi-agency task force investigation, lead by
the San Jose Fire Department. The task force consisted of eighty-three investigators
from the San Jose Fire Department Arson Unit; San Jose Police Department; Santa
Clara County Arson Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, and
Firearms (ATF). Investigators used canines to assist them in their investigation. The
entire process was reviewed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to ensure that an
appropriate and through effort had been made to determine the cause and origin of the
incident.
The investigation focused primarily upon interviews with witnesses and suspects
because of the total destruction of the complex. All of the combustibles were destroyed
above the twenty-foot level. Nearly five million board feet of lumber were consumed and some of the areas at a height of over thirty-five feet were reduced to six inches of
debris. The interview process proved to be a significant undertaking because more than
500 people were working at the site when the fire occurred. A total of 491 employees
from 148 sub-contractors were interviewed, approximately 100 pieces of evidence was
collected, and sixty-two registered arsonists within county were interviewed. Evidence
collected at the scene was examined by the Santa Clara County Crime Laboratory and the
ATF Laboratory in Walnut Creek.
Investigators determined that the fire started in building number one of Parcel
Seven and that the fire loss was approximately $90 million, not including the economic
impact to the community. Investigators pursued two primary possibilities: that the fire
was accidental, perhaps being caused by “hot” work being performed in association
with normal construction activities and that the fire was intentionally set. At the time
that this report was written a final determination of the exact cause of the fire had not
been determined.
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