Sept. 09--An early morning fire at Eagan's historic city hall Sunday is being investigated.
"We think the cause of the fire is suspicious," said Tom Garrison, the city's communications director.
The Eagan Fire Department was called to the scene of the fire about 5 a.m. The structure is on the corner of Pilot Knob and Wescott roads, said Tom Schellinger, battalion chief for the department.
Flames were shooting through the roof and coming from the back corner when crews arrived, Schellinger said.
Firefighters from four stations had the blaze under control after about 15 minutes and worked another hour dousing all the embers and trying to salvage items from the building, Schellinger said.
No damage estimate was available early
Sunday morning.
"It's hard to put a number on its contents," Garrison said.
Although many original items are stored at the current city hall, some items -- such as almost all the century-old glass windows -- were destroyed.
The building was opened in 1914 after fire destroyed the previous town hall, built in 1896.
City officials and historical society members had just begun planning the centennial celebration.
"(It's) really a shock," said Kim Hazel, vice chair of the historical society. "I'm just devastated. I drove in and started crying."
No one was injured. Pilot Knob Road was blocked off for about three hours, according to the fire department.
Anyone with information about the blaze is asked to call the tipline at 651-675-5799 or the state Arson Hotline at 800-723-2020.
A reward is being offered to anyone with information that may help solve the case.
Copyright 2013 - Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
