Staff Writer

State fire investigators say they may never know the cause of the blaze that leveled The Galaxy Night Club in Old Orchard Beach last week.

Sgt. Ken Grimes of the state Fire Marshal’s Office said the cause of the Aug. 1 fire is officially listed as undetermined. He said the investigation remains open as investigators complete interviews.

Investigators determined the fire started at the rear of the main floor after spending hours combing through the remnants of the nightclub, Grimes said.

“There’s too much damage to be able to determine exactly what transpired,” he said.

Fire crews from Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Biddeford and Scarborough responded to East Grand Avenue around 8:25 a.m. Aug. 1 after witnesses reported they heard popping sounds and saw smoke coming from the back of the nightclub.

Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief John Glass said last week crews arrived on scene to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. The building, constructed in 1933, had undergone numerous renovations and the second floor was used as storage, he said.

Firefighters used several ladder hoses to prevent flames from spreading to a nearby restaurant and T-shirt shop. No one was injured in the fire.

Old Orchard Beach Code Enforcement Officer Michael Nugent said building owners are required to demolish the remains of the two-story building as soon as their insurance company completes its work at the scene. The lot will then be cleared of debris and smoothed over, he said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the state Fire Marshal’s Office, Old Orchard Beach police and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Sgt. Joel Davis of the Fire Marshal’s Office said last week extra agents were brought in because the fire was in a commercial building and to ensure all witnesses and employees were promptly interviewed.

Dani Sisson, manager of The Galaxy, said last week he is convinced the fire was arson. The nightclub, with a capacity of 350 people, was open Thursday through Saturday nights during summer.

“Even if (investigators) say it was an accident, I’m still going to say it was not an accident,” Sisson said hours after the fire.

The town assessed the building at $271,000 and the land at 10 East Grand Ave. at $310,900. Sisson said the building is owned by Conrad Catalano of Blue Jay Inc. of East Providence, R.I.

Sisson, who did not have insurance on the contents of his club, said The Galaxy will open again for business next summer. 

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.