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According to Pulaski Fire Chief Bill Webb, an unknown electrical problem was the probable cause of the fire. The exact cause may never be known.

Fire officials, along with investigators from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau (ATF) spent the day Monday shifting through the debris.

Investigators believe that the fire started in an electrical box in the attic. Workers at the museum had reported problems with the circuit breaker box.

The fire was reported just shortly after midnight on Monday and it took fire crews from Draper, Dublin, Pulaski, Newbern and Fairlawn about three hours to bring the fire under control. Crews remained on the scene to around 9 a.m. extinguishing hot spots.

The building, which was built in the early 1800s, was the home of the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Museum, as well as the Pulaski Farmers Market and other events.

The building, which was listed on the National Historic Register, and its contents were insured through the Virginia Association of Counties for $800,000.

Town crews and museum workers have been working since early Monday morning to salvage as many items as possible.

Click here to see additional photos from the fire in our photo gallery.

Photo: (Top left) The historic Pulaski Train Depot was destroyed by fire early Monday morning. (Photo by David Grimes)

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