Investigators are still looking into cause of downtown warehouse fire

More than a month after a fire erupted at a downtown ropa usada warehouse destroying the building and its contents, officials are still unable to determine how the fire started.

Although fire investigators are still conducting an investigation into the fire at 802 E. Washington St., the cause and origin of the blaze remains unknown, Brownsville Fire Marshal Ben Nuñez said on Thursday.

"As it stands right now it’s an undetermined fire unless we get some new evidence. The cause and origin is being ruled undetermined," Nuñez said.

The fire erupted May 7 at the downtown warehouse that housed packages of ropa usada, or used clothing. Six fire engines and 18 firefighters were dispatched to the fire that fire crews battled for at least 16 hours.

It was not until several days after the fire that investigators were able to enter the remains of the burned building to try and determine the fire’s cause.

Investigators collected several pieces of evidence from the fire scene and shipped it to the state arson lab in Austin for testing. The results from the arson lab are expected to arrive within the next four weeks.

Nuñez said fire investigators have interviewed several witnesses including police officers, firefighters and other individuals that arrived at the scene shortly after the fire started, and that investigators have received "a lot of conflicting" information from those interviewed.

However, he added, authorities are hopeful that once the investigation is completed they will be able to determine just how the fire started.

Meanwhile, Brownsville police continue to search for the suspect accused of tossing a Molotov cocktail through a window at the Hotel Economico that set the historic building ablaze in May.

This incident was the result of an altercation between a prostitute and an unidentified man that happened prior to the fire, police said.

The May 9 blaze started in the second story of the hotel, located on 12th Street. Mattresses were burned down to the metal springs and parts of the ceiling were destroyed. The fire has been ruled as being intentionally set.

Although police last month released a description of the man accused of tossing the Molotov cocktail through a hotel window, they have not received any new leads in the case, police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique said.

The unidentified man is believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, with a light to medium complexion. It is also believed the man is a member of the Vallucos gang. He has tattoos on his front chest.

An unidentified woman is believed to have been with the man. She too is believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, with long dark hair.

Police urge anyone with information on the couple involved in the Hotel Economico fire to call Brownsville Crime stoppers at 546-TIPS or 546-8477.