A preliminary investigation has found no signs of accelerants at a fire that destroyed a historic synagogue in northern Minnesota, authorities said Monday.
But further investigation will have to be done once the building is stabilized, Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj said.
Firefighters responded to the fire at the Adas Israel Congregation in downtown Duluth about 2 a.m. Monday. Firefighters were still hosing down the building's blackened shell five hours later.
All that is left among the charred remains are the remnants of some structural walls. The building "is pretty much a total loss," Duluth Assistant Fire Chief Brent Consie said.
Authorities said they have some idea where the fire began, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.
"Buildings typically do not start on fire for no reason," Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken told reporters. "We have an idea, but we don't have enough facts right now for us to be absolutely sure what happened."