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No Word on Bush Fire's Cause: Blaze Not Seen As Suspicious

Posted on: Friday, 17 February 2006, 06:00 CST

By Pete Bosak, The Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa.

Feb. 17--BELLEFONTE -- A state police fire marshal returned Thursday morning to the rubble of what once was the historic Bush House, but left still unable to determine what caused the catastrophic Feb. 8 blaze.

"It remains undetermined," state police Fire Marshal Jeff Wharran said. "It's unlikely to change, but the investigation is continuing."

The fire is not considered suspicious, he said.

Crews with Earthmovers Unlimited, of Kylertown, began digging some of the debris out of the site on the corner of West High and Water streets, so state police and insurance company investigators could get inside Thursday and look around more than they had been able to previously.

Also, the Bush House's owner, Ken Kempton, wanted to get inside the restaurant area and salvage whatever memorabilia he could, Wharran said.

Kempton could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Fire did not destroy the kitchen area, nor parts of the restaurant, "which is what we expected," Wharran said. "The tables are still set in the restaurant."

Investigators think the blaze, reported at 6:55 a.m. Feb. 8., erupted in a 40-by-50-feet section, likely on the first floor, in the center of the Bush House. It then rapidly spread outwards, so quickly that, firefighters said, there was no chance to save the 138-year-old landmark.

The hotel, home to seven businesses including the popular Schnitzels Tavern, did not have a building-wide sprinkler system or an automatic fire alarm and collapsed within hours of the fire being reported.

Due to the severity of the fire and intense heat it generated, Wharran has not been able to determine what exactly ignited the blaze.

Bellefonte Police Chief Shawn Weaver said Thursday that West High Street in front of the Bush House site will remain closed indefinitely as demolition crews continue their work.

Pete Bosak can be reached at 235-3928.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.)

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