It may be days before cause of destructive Oklahoma City fire is determined

Monday, January 10th 2005, 2:54 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- It may be several days before fire investigators determine what caused a fire that destroyed a machine manufacturing business Monday and caused damages that may exceed $1 million.

The blaze caused the roof of the 1932 brick building housing Komota Industries to collapse, and only a portion of the structure's walls remained standing Monday.

Investigators briefly examined the building's shell but haven't determined a cause for the fire. Maj. Brian Stanaland said that may take several days because heavy equipment will have to be brought to the site.

A complete damage estimate wasn't available, Stanaland said.

No one was injured in the four-alarm fire which started just after 1 a.m. Monday. About 60 firefighters spent most of the day dousing hot spots.

The business employs 15 people who manufacture machinery that removes paint on concrete and other floor coverings.

Building owner Joe Sutherland watched the flames shooting out of the building.

"Unbelievable," Sutherland said at the scene.

Komota Industries occupied about a third of the building. The remainder of the building was vacant, Stanaland said.

The building and its contents were insured, Stanaland said.