PORT ANGELES — Business owners are continuing to assess the damage caused by a fire that burned part of the downtown Elks Naval Lodge, and it could be Friday before investigators can begin to determine the cause of the blaze.
The Tuesday morning fire that apparently started in Camera Corner — and destroyed the photography store at the corner of First and Lincoln streets — also weakened the floor above the store.
That made it structurally unstable for investigators to do their job, Port Angeles Fire Marshal Ken Dubuc said Wednesday.
Until a contractor can strengthen the floor, “we’re not going to be able to do any of the real investigative work that needs to be done,” Dubuc said.
Temporary shoring was installed Tuesday afternoon to allow firefighters to eliminate any possible hot spots in the building.
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The rest of the story appears in Thursday’s Peninsula Daily News.
