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Investigators are still in the dark on cause of Carpenter Hill Inn fire By CHRIS BRISTOL PHOENIX -- Fire investigators have been unable to pinpoint the cause of a blaze that destroyed the historic Carpenter Hill Inn last month. Which is not to say they don't know where it started, Medford Fire investigator Debi Bisbee said Friday. "It started on the second floor, near the sewing room," she said. "We knew where to look, based on first-in video from firefighters and statements from witnesses, but the cause remains unknown." The historic bed-and-breakfast at 846 Carpenter Hill Road was destroyed in the fire, which occurred late on the night of Oct. 27. It was up for sale, with a listed market price of $699,000. Bisbee, the lead investigator, said she interviewed 12 people in connection with the case. Some of the subjects were reinterviewed two or three times. She said the case is being turned over to Oregon State Police arson investigator Ryan Fields, who has been involved almost from the beginning and plans to conduct more interviews. Because the cause remains unknown, Bisbee said investigators are unable to say whether it was an accident or arson. "We can't prove or disprove that it was an accident or on purpose," she said. "That's why we're not labeling it an arson at this time." Bisbee noted that a friend of the owner was in the house when the fire started. The friend told investigators she was doing some packing and cleaning, Bisbee said. Despite the woman's cooperation, Bisbee said investigators "cannot rule out at this time that the fire started accidentally." Investigators collected some unspecified items for testing, Bisbee added. No tests are planned until the interview stage is completed. The inn was built in 1909 and was visited by a number of famous people, including actor Clark Gable, President Theodore Roosevelt and newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. It had fallen into disrepair until Angela Caperna, a Medford interior decorator, bought the place in 1991 and began restoring it. Caperna was away in Los Angeles on the night of the fire. Firefighters were able to save many of the paintings and antiques that decorated the first floor. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA