HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) -- Arson is suspected in a fire that gutted a landmark building in Harlingen's historic district, investigators say.
The fire at the 89-year-old Pioneer's Building - a brick building that has served as a mercantile store, post office, community center and classroom for Hispanic children - broke out early Sunday and took four city fire departments more than eight hours to control.
A family-owned Western store and finance company was destroyed, and the building was left roofless and full of charred rubble.
City Fire Inspector Ramon Gomez said investigators and a search dog had found signs of a flammable liquid that appears to have been an accelerant, according to Tuesday's Valley Morning Star.
Gomez said fire crews were still clearing debris and would begin looking for a burn pattern to determine where the fire started.
An architect from the Texas Historical Commission was to be in town Tuesday to assess the damage.
