TEMPLE (April 28, 2011)- The three-alarm fire that burned for a week and left the Forta Corporation's facility a total loss was intentionally set, according to Temple fire officials.
The case is now being worked as a criminal investigation.
First reports shortly after 10 p.m. on April 14 showed fire and smoke coming from a sheet metal building.
The blaze quickly developed into a three-alarm fire as the fire spread to a nearby paper recycling facility operated by Temple Iron and Metal.
The fire was under control about 4 hours later, but continued to burn due to burning laminate trapped under fallen debris.
Firefighters brought in an excavator to remove the debris and fully extinguished the fire on Friday, April 22.
Initial estimates calculate $3 million of damage.
