In the coming months, safety officials will be called in to investigate whether or not the interior brick and mortar of the building is stable enough to hold the structure. Simkins says the exterior brick did not receive crucial damage.
The historical building garners a number of features such as a tin ceiling between the first and second floors, as well as stained glass windows. According to fire officials, the ceiling received minimal damage, however, the majority of the windows were broken.
Much of this mornings fire remains a mystery, as the cause has not been released at this point. Simkins says the State Fire Marshal will survey damage this afternoon to help determine what ignited the blaze.
Fire officials also indicated that video surveillance has been taken from the upstairs kitchen area where the fire originated at. Investigation is on-going at this time.