Scrappers at fault for Springfield warehouse fire

The Springfield Fire/Rescue Division has completed its investigation into the Tri-State Pallet warehouse fire and found that people stealing metal from the building sparked the massive flames.

The warehouse fire was the biggest fire in Springfield in decades, Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal Brian Miller said.

The official cause of the fire will be listed as undetermined, but Miller said his weeks-long investigation points to the scrappers. Witnesses also reported seeing the individuals taking the metal from the building in the days before the fire started.

Individuals using a blow torch to take metal from a roof near the loading dock is what probably sparked the flames, Miller said.