NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The huge fire that destroyed a historic warehouse complex on the Brooklyn waterfront was declared under control Wednesday evening after weary firefighters struggled for nearly 36 hours to put out the stubborn blaze.
PHOTOS: Greenpoint Fire May 2, 2006
Some "smoldering fire deep-rooted in the debris'' continued to burn, and firefighters would continue to monitor it, Fire Lieutenant Tom Kane said.
"The blaze was officially declared under control at 5:11 p.m.", Kane said.
Meanwhile, fire marshals pressed ahead with an investigation of possible arson.
The inquiry was focused for the moment on a canvass of the neighborhood for witnesses who might have seen suspicious activity, Chief Fire Marshal Louis Garcia said. That put it a long way from anyone being charged in the case.
"We're awaiting demolition and fire extinguishing of pockets of fire, so we can safely conduct a 'physical,' or forensic examination of the premises in the area where we believe cause and origin might be found,'' Garcia said through the spokesman, John Mulligan.
Several freestanding remnants of the 19th century warehouses would have to be knocked down before that phase of the investigation, which would include a search for evidence of possible flammable "accelerants'' having been used to start the fire, he said.
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