ESCANABA, MI— Authorities have concluded their investigation into last year’s fire at the Stonehouse restaurant in Escanaba.
The Escanaba Department of Public Safety says after it conducted interviews with witnesses, reviewed video footage from nearby locations, and examined the fire scene, an electrical malfunction is likely to blame.
Investigators recovered digital video recording units from security cameras in the restaurant. Footage indicated the December fire started in the basement, in the ceiling joists of a storage room.
Police say while the exact cause of the fire is inconclusive, a malfunction in electrical wiring or devices is considered a likely source of ignition. They say there is no evidence to suggest the fire was caused by intentional human actions.
Escanaba Public Safety extends its gratitude to the Michigan State Police Fire Investigations Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, State-Wide Consulting & Investigating, and Brunette & Son Excavating for their valuable support during the investigation.
