Major July Oakland construction fire cause still undetermined: ATF

Fire officials say they are unable to determine the cause of a July 7 fire last month that destroyed an Oakland apartment building that was under construction, The San Jose Mercury-News reports.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Jill Snyder didn’t say what stymied investigators looking into the fire. The building’s owner, Wood Partners, said it hoped ATF would continue to investigate and ultimately determine a cause.

Wood Partners spokesman Sam Singer said the owners plan to rebuild.

Video: Investigators released video footage of a “person of interest” seen scurrying up scaffold attached to the side of an Emeryville development shortly before it caught fire in May. 

ATF previously determined three similar fires that destroyed two similar construction projects nearby were purposely set.

Investigators released video footage of a “person of interest” seen scurrying up scaffold attached to the side of an Emeryville development shortly before it caught fire in May. It was the second time that $35 million project has been destroyed by arson.

No arrests have been made and no one has been injured in any of the fires

The July fire prompted the evacuation of 700 neighbors after a construction crane spun out of control for hours.