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Jun 8, 2008 6:55 am US/Central
Fire Destroys Governor's Mansion
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ―
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Texas Governor Rick Perry (File)
CBS News
Fire swept through the historic Texas Governor's Mansion early Sunday, causing damage that state officials described as "bordering on catastrophic."
No one was inside the 150-year-old mansion at the time, said Robert Black, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry. The mansion had been undergoing a $10 million renovation, and Perry and his wife, Anita, had moved out last fall.
The two-story mansion, home of every Texas governor since 1856, was blackened, the white columns at the front of the home were charred, and officials said parts of the roof had collapsed.
About 100 firefighters were sent to the four-alarm blaze, Fire Department spokeswoman Dawn Clopton said. Small hot spots were still being extinguished more than five hours later.
The cause had not been determined.
"It is bordering on catastrophic," said Allison Castle, a Perry spokeswoman.
Perry and his wife were in Stockholm, Sweden, on Sunday as part of a European trip. They were scheduled to return on Tuesday.
In a statement released Sunday afternoon Governor Perry said
"We are heartbroken by the fire that has ravaged the Texas Governors Mansion. It has not only been our home for the past eight years, but has stood as a symbol of Texas pride throughout its history. Though it can certainly be rebuilt, what Texas has lost today can never be replaced." According to the Governor's staff, all furniture and historic artifacts had been removed from the mansion before the renovations began.
The mansion had a fire alarm but no sprinkler system, installation of a fire suppression system was among the renovations that began in October.
The large trees surrounding the mansion, which sits on a lot the size of a city block, made it difficult for firefighters to position their equipment, Clopton said.
The state fire marshall's office would lead the investigation, Clopton said. Firefighters were working with state officials to prevent further damage as they moved throughout the house, she said.
The governor uses the mansion as a home and for official functions, such as hosting heads of state or dignitaries.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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