The cause of the fire that destroyed the Wing Dingers restaurant north of Mineola almost a year ago is still under investigation.

Wood County Fire Marshal Tully Davidson said last week the investigation of the fire that occurred on the evening of Feb. 28 is still ongoing. Asked what is occurring as far as the investigation, he answered, “I’m still mulling it over.” He continued, saying he had “suspended” the work on the Wing Dingers investigation as he investigates other fires he believes were arsons.

Five departments responded to the WingDingers fire that was noticed about two hours after the restaurant closed on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 28. Firefighters pitted their efforts and thousands of gallons of water against the blaze but it destroyed the restaurant. In a regional television news interview the next day, owner Chris Fischer said he planned to rebuild the restaurant. He still owns a Wing Dingers in Quitman but the Mineola facility has not been rebuilt.

Some members of the community expressed questions about the fire, knowing that the owner had had some connection with another building that had burned several years prior in Royce City. The state fire marshal’s office was involved and the insurer, The Hartford, also conducted an investigation. Over the months Davidson has obtained results of their investigations.

Since taking the position as county fire marshal last January, Davidson has investigated 56 fires. He is currently investigating 10 from all over Wood County. Of those, there are six he believes are arsons but he said they may not be charged as such after they go to the district attorney’s office. “He makes that determination,” the fire marshal said.

Recent fires included a car fire in Alba last Tuesday that was due to an electrical problem. No one was injured. Davidson noted a few other fires had occurred in chimneys that needed to be cleaned. Another fire occurred from someone “burning beans.”