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Mosque Burns: High Heat Hampers Cause Hunt

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-955077.mp3

KANSAS CITY, MO. – Investigators say they don't know what caused a 3 alarm fire that burned much of today, destroying a Kansas City mosque.

Fire detectives were inside the ruins of the 3 story building this afternoon long enough to call it " too hot to handle", at least at that point.

The real work begins tomorrow after daybreak.

Investigators hope to establish where the fire started and how. That is, cause and point of origin.

The building was at St. John Avenue and Elwood on the Northeast side. Fire Battalion Chief Joe Vitale explains that agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are there because--"it's federal policy these days that anything involving a place of worship, that they are contacted and notified."

Vitale says the mosque occupied the ground floor, the upper stories were vacant. No one apparently was inside as the fire burned and no injuries are reported.

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