Investigators Say Blaze at Historic Chico, CA, Mansion was Arson
Aidin Vaziri
San Francisco Chronicle
(TNS)
Dec. 18—Arson is suspected in the fire that severely damaged the historic Bidwell Mansion in Chico early on Dec. 11, investigators with California State Parks confirmed on Tuesday.
Aaron Wright, district chief for the agency, said they have found "clear indicators" of arson at the site, although the identity of the perpetrator remains unknown.
The blaze destroyed much of the mansion, which was undergoing extensive restoration and was slated to reopen to the public in 2025.
"This was an intentional act, and we can confidently rule out any accidental fire that happened here," Wright said at a press conference.
The fire broke out in the early morning hours and consumed much of the mansion before firefighters were able to contain it. The building continued to smolder throughout the day, and state parks officials have not yet determined if the structure can be salvaged.
Wright declined to offer specific details about the fire's origin or its suspected point of ignition, noting that disclosing such information could compromise the investigation.
"At this point, it's still an active investigation," he said. "I can't release what we have, but we're confident based on all the investigation that's been done so far and evidence that's been collected that this is arson."
State fire investigators, along with the California state fire marshal, the Butte County unit of Cal Fire and the Sierra Regional Arson Task Force, are all involved in the case.
Wright stated that the lack of security footage from the mansion or its visitor center has hampered the investigation, though they continue to look for any available video evidence that could help identify a suspect.
"At this time we don't know who did this so we are investigating any leads that we can come up with and that we can find," Wright said.
Officials have also stated that no sprinkler system was in place at the time of the fire, though the building did have fire and burglar alarms.
The Victorian-era mansion was built in 1868 by Gold Rush figure and city founder John Bidwell and his wife, Annie. Visitors to the mansion included figures such as President Rutherford B. Hayes, Civil War Gen. William Sherman and women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony.
"It was more than a historic building. It was a gathering place, a teaching tool, a source of pride in our community," Chico Mayor Kasey Reynolds said at a vigil last week. "It told stories of the past that informed the present and inspired the future."
While many original artifacts were removed for preservation, some items remained inside the building at the time of the blaze, though their condition has not yet been confirmed.
Wright said a thorough assessment of the damage is underway, with an excavator being used to remove severely damaged sections of the building.
The Bidwell Mansion is a California State Historic Park and a significant piece of the region's history.
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