The Texas Governor’s Mansion was heavily damaged by a blaze early Sunday, though no one was in the mansion at the time. Arson is suspected to be the cause of the fire. Governor Rick Perry and his wife Anita are in Sweden and no threat is suspected against them.
All historic furnishings and heirlooms had been removed for a $10 million dollar renovation project, but much of the wood in the Greek revival-style building was “completely irreplaceable” longleaf pine, said Robert Black, a Perry spokesman. He added that some interior ornamentation is beyond repair.
“We are heartbroken by the fire that has ravaged the Texas Governor’s Mansion,” Perry said in a prepared statement. “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.”
Nearly 100 firefighters responded to the site shortly after 2 AM. The mansion was equipped with a fire alarm. A state trooper who was on the grounds as part of regular security detail heard an alarm go off, then saw flames and called the fire department, said Tela Mange, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“We’re going to come get the person that’s responsible for causing this damage,” one official was quoted as saying. Security cameras were active in the area and the authorities are interviewing possible witnesses. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was sending in a national response team to assist the investigation.
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