Oct. 30--The fire that tore through an abandoned motel Monday night is being investigated by arson investigators, city officials said.
Lt. Todd Joyce, a spokesman for the Fayetteville Police Department, said the cause of the fire has not been determined.
Arson investigators from the city and county are working with the State Bureau of Investigation, he said.
Patel Motel, at 442 S. Eastern Blvd., was ordered closed by a Superior Court judge in 2012.
The motel was abandoned by the owners after Fayetteville police spent years working to stop criminal activity there. City officials said the motel was home to drug sales, drug abuse and prostitution. Police initially filed a nuisance abatement lawsuit against the property in 2005 when the business was the Budget Inn II.
Firefighters responded to the motel around 4:20 p.m. Monday.
Assistant Chief Kevin Morgan said firefighters did a quick suppression of the fire to sweep the building for homeless people who may have been inside.
Morgan said firefighters abided by the condemnation notices posted on the building. He said the building was not safe for firefighters to be in and there was asbestos inside. Instead of combating the blaze, firefighters contained the scene and let the fire move through the dilapidated building.
Firefighters spent more than five hours at the motel as it burned to the fire walls. Only a large pile of rubble and ash remained.
Tuesday afternoon the building's remains still were cordoned off with yellow police tape. Signs have been posted along the tape and at the still-standing motel office warning people to stay out.
Despite the signs, several homeless residents were seen going in and out of the office building.
Staff writer Caitlin Dineen can be reached at [email protected] or 486-3509.
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