How long an investigation into the cause of the Stewartstown factory fire could take

The cause of a fire that destroyed an old furniture factory in Stewartstown over the weekend has not been determined, and the investigation into it could take weeks, months or even longer, according to Eureka Volunteer Fire Chief Todd Gibney.

"Fires with this level of destruction take time. Investigators must first identify ALL of the POSSIBLE causes, then thoroughly and methodically eliminate each one until they are down to a single cause," Gibney said in a Facebook post. "Depending on what the cause is, more investigation may be required."

The fire, which is believed to be one of the biggest in York County's history, started early Saturday morning at the vacant Stewartstown Furniture Factory. Firefighters from multiple counties responded to the scene to fight the blaze that went to six alarms. Embers were found miles away from the borough.

Southern Regional Police were seeking any video footage that showed any suspicious activity in the area between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., a news release states.

"While we also are anxiously awaiting any developments in the investigation, please know that it may be awhile before we hear anything," Gibney said in the post.

Smoldering fire nearly extinguished

The chief had warned the public that the fire would smolder for days, and he posted on Wednesday evening that all of the hot spots either burned out or had been extinguished by firefighters.

One small spot near a corner of the building occasionally puts off smoke, and the department is keeping an eye on it, Gibney said. The public should not call 911 about it.

How to help the Stewartstown fire department

Gibney thanked the public for their patience and understanding in the post.

"We, Eureka, are humbled by the positive comments and generosity from residents and business owners in our community," he wrote. "We really do appreciate it."

Gibney said the department needs more volunteers and encouraged the public to donate to the annual drive, which launched in January. Only 21 percent of households have responded with a donation.

He also encouraged the public to attend one of its fundraisers, such as its annual carnival in July, a breakfast or Bingo.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Stewartstown factory building fire investigation to take time