Authorities say they will never know what caused the Jan. 16 fire that destroyed the 117-year-old Grimes Mill.
The city of Salisbury released this statement today:
“Salisbury Fire and Police investigators, along with investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have agreed that due to the extent of fire damage resulting from the January 16 fire at Grimes Mill, the cause of the fire is undetermined.”
The five-alarm blaze started late on the evening of Jan. 16 and quickly engulfed the wood-and-brick roller mill owned by the Historic Salisbury Foundation.
The heat was so intense that steam rose from rain-dampened ground 60 feet from the structure. Fire crews were never able to enter the building.
The foundation is selling bricks from the mill. Proceeds will help offset the cost of cleaning the Church Street site.