By Jeremy Weldon

Batesville Police Chief Jimmy McCloud said the investigation into the cause of fire at a Dunlap & Kyle warehouse on Eureka St. almost two weeks ago has mostly been completed, with only a few follow up interviews remaining.

The April 10 was looked at very closely, McCloud said, because the fire was found on an upper storage rack – approximately 15 feet off the ground – with no other burning tires in other areas.

Officers from the Mississippi Fire Marshal’s office and the federal ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) were on scene in the days following the fire collecting evidence for a final report.

Volunteers from the Sardis, Courtland, Red Hill, and Pope Fire Departments were called in for personnel support by Batesville Fire Chief Tim Taylor soon after the alarm was sounded about 1:30 p.m.

Thick, black smoke poured from the vents in the eves of the large warehouse before firefighters were able to contain and suppress the fire with foam and water.

Taylor said the building was saved because the sprinkler system installed at the time of construction operated just as it was designed, keeping the fire from spreading as firemen raced to the scene.

McCloud said no one had been arrested in connection with the fire as of Tuesday.