Investigators did not find any evidence of arson with the blaze at a Hollister medical office complex early Wednesday, the fire chief said.
One of five buildings at the medical offices on Sunnyslope Road was destroyed by the fire, reported around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. The building where the fire started was totaled by the blaze, while a neighboring building received some damage.
The building destroyed in the fire was the offices of Dr. Mark Stephens, a dentist, along with Dr. Martin Bress, a Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital physician.
The building also housed several doctors as a multi-specialty clinic for the hospital, said Frankie Arballo, public affairs director for Hazel Hawkins.
She said Dr. Joseph Klapper will see patients at the Sunset Drive clinic across from the hospital, while others will work out of the orthopedic clinic on Sunnyslope Road.
Authorities say it looks accidental, but the cause remains under investigation.
Fire Chief Fred Cheshire on Friday said a local investigator and investigators brought in from Santa Cruz County did not have reason to believe it involved arson.
“They did not find anything that led them to believe it was purposely set,” Cheshire said.
The investigation is continuing, he said, as well as communications with the involved insurance companies.
Look back for more, including reaction from those involved.
