Cause of blaze still a mystery

Investigators are still looking into a blaze that destroyed an apartment complex, chiropractic clinic and damaged a minimart and several houses last Thursday.

Kilgore Director of Public Safety Ronnie Moore said investigators have determined the fire started in units 12, 13 and 9 of the Rocky Ridge Apartment Complex.

"But that's all we've been able to determine so far," Moore said.

Moore said rumors of there being a meth lab in the units "is just that -rumor."

"We've heard that rumor also," he said. "But we have not been able to come up with anything on that."

Moore places the value of the damages at $1 million plus.

The four-alarm fire broke out about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Destroyed were the 21-unit Rocky Ridge Apartments and McNabb Chiropractic Clinic. A vacant garage apartment and a separate structure on Lawrence Street behind the apartments were also heavily damaged.

Because of high winds, reportedly clocked between 25 and 30 mph with gusts above 40, the fire quickly spread to McNabb's Chiropractic Clinic. That frame structure was quickly engulfed.

Heat from the burning clinic was so intense that awnings on the north side of the nearby Sonic Drive-In suffered some damage. Clayton's Mini-Mart also suffered damages, and Monday workers were at the business cleaning it up and preparing for re-opening which is expected in about a week.

A two-story garage/office on Lawrence Street, owned by Greg Cashen, was heavily damaged.

David Peters, owner of the property, recently purchased the property and was in the process of remodeling it.

"We sold everything we had in Australia and invested it here," Peters said. "I want to rebuild but have to wait until I hear from the insurance company."