Fire that destroyed the Drake Hotel started in one apartment, but cause is unclear

Minneapolis fire officials cannot pinpoint the cause of the Christmas Day blaze that spread from a single apartment to destroy the Francis Drake Hotel, leaving about 200 people homeless.

Using witness statements and the science behind fire patterns, the Minneapolis Fire Department was able to determine that it began in Unit 244 on the second floor of the historic building, said Larry Oker, who works in the Fire Investigations Unit. But fire and water damage prevented firefighters and insurance representatives from safely accessing the starting point, Oker said.

http://www.startribune.com/fire-that-destroyed-the-drake-hotel-fire-started-in-one-apartment-but-cause-is-unclear/566653561/