The state fire marshal confirmed arson to be the cause of the Governor's Mansion fire Thursday as reconstruction of the 152-year-old building began.
State and federal teams terminated the on-site arson investigation Thursday morning but will continue examining evidence off-site while the mansion is restored.
State officials have provided few details concerning the fire during the investigation, but State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado, who has been heading the investigation, confirmed speculations during a press conference Thursday, saying that video surveillance shows an individual lighting an object and throwing it onto the mansion's front porch.
State-owned buildings like the mansion are uninsured, so the state or outside groups provide upkeep and renovations. The mansion was undergoing a $10 million renovation project at the time of the fire.
The Texas State Legislature is expected to determine how much state money will be allotted to help fund the restoration process soon, but governor's office officials have not said when to expect that announcement.
The total amount of allotted state aid can only be decided after the building has been completely inspected to determine damage costs, said Krista Piferrer, a spokeswoman at the governor's office.
John Volz, one of the architects planning the restoration project, said historical-preservation groups and expert architects are confident they will be able to restore the mansion, regardless of the severe smoke, water and structural damage it suffered during the fire.
"I have seen buildings in similar or worse condition, and they were fully restored," Volz said. "It's a great loss, but it's not a total loss."
Volz said every part of the house will need attention but that there is a notable amount of material and building fabric that survived the flames.
Volz said the roof structure is the most pressing issue in the restoration project but that it cannot be reparied until after the core structure is stabilized with support beams. He did not offer a timeline for the restoration process but said that the team working on the building is staying positive about the project.
"We look forward to seeing the building in its prime again," Volz said.
Several local historical preservation societies have created private funds to collect donations for the effort.
The Austin Heritage Society created a private fund to help restore the mansion soon after the Sunday morning fire. Several other groups around the state have since joined the society in their fundraising efforts, and many individuals have already made donations, said John Donisi, president of the society.
"This is something that's really important to a lot of people," Donisi said. "They just really wanted to be involved, whether it was a bake sale or opening a piggy bank."
