Fire investigators have not yet been able to determine what caused a fire that swept through a cardboard storage area at the Firestone Business Park last month.
The spectacular blaze, which drew firefighters from every department in the county, was probably started accidentally, according to Curt Itson, battalion chief for the state Department of Forestry and the lead investigator.
Itson said investigators believe embers from cigarettes may have started the fire. But he said that the extreme temperature of the fire left no trace evidence.
The fire started shortly after 6 p.m. May 19 in the outdoor cardboard storage area belonging to Robert Mann Packaging Inc. behind the massive business park, located south of Salinas.
Strong winds fanned the blaze and sections of the area virtually exploded in flames, threatening to engulf the businesses within the 1.8 million-square-foot business park structure.
Firefighters said a fire sprinkler system at the exterior loading dock at Mann Packaging stopped the blaze from destroying Mann's equipment and the rest of the business park.
About 100 firefighters responded to the fire, which burned through the night and into the next morning. The fire caused about $2 million in damage, most of it to the cardboard inventory at Mann Packaging.
Salinas Rural Fire Chief Steve Negro said the fire will remain under investigation. The cause is currently being listed as "undetermined."
Itson said anyone with any new information or leads about the fire should contact him at 333-2600.
