'Nothing ruled out' in Georgia Theatre fire

Athens-Clarke County authorities are "making no assumptions" in their investigation into the Georgia Theatre fire, which gets under way in earnest today.

Asked if arson was suspected, Athens-Clarke County Fire Department spokesman Chuck Gulley said, "Nothing has been ruled out.

"The investigation is in the preliminary stages," he said. "We'll go with the evidence we find as we go in there today. Open mind; open investigation."

More than 50 firefighters responded to the three-alarm blaze, which destroyed the iconic Athens landmark this past Friday. All of the exterior walls of the famous music venue remain intact but the interior was "totally gutted," according to Gulley.

All parties involved in the investigation gathered Monday morning for a "kickoff meeting" to coordinate their efforts and "lay out a plan as to determining a cause and origin," Gulley said. The Athens-Clarke fire marshal will lead the investigation with assistant from the state fire marshal's office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Wilmot Greene, owner of the Georgia Theatre, said he's not offended that fire officials haven't ruled out arson.

"No, it's an investigation; that's what they do," Greene said Monday. "I'm convinced it's not arson. I don't have any disgruntled employees."

Authorities have been unable to search the rubble until the heat and danger of hot-spot flare-ups had sufficiently subsided, Gulley said.

"We have still have absolutely no information on the cause," Greene said. "There is zero information right now."

There have been several reports the fire originated in a rear, second-floor office. Gulley would not confirm that.

"That back corner is where all the electrical was," Greene said. "I think it was electrical but I don't want to speculate. That's why they investigate."

Meanwhile, there has been an outpouring of support for the club from the Athens music and nightclub community: