(Chico, CA) – It seems the investigation into the cause of yesterday morning’s pre-dawn fire that rendered the Bidwell Mansion a complete loss, has become a bit more complicated.

Action News initially reported, citing Chico Assistant Fire Chief Chris Zinko , that fire crews responded to “a warming fire” and “a person was seen leaving the area.” In their update last evening, that wording is changed to “illegal burn.”

Meanwhile, The Chico Enterprise-Record quotes Chico City Manager Mark Sorensen saying that he understood as of early yesterday afternoon, “an initial call suspected creek area warming fire,” adding “currently the root cause of the blaze does not appear to be the result of a warming fire. That is as far as I would want to go at this time. The facts of the matter are coming together.”