Posted on 06/08/2008 5:52:34 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Fire destroys Texas governor's mansion
12 minutes ago
Texas state officials say a four-alarm fire has caused "catastrophic" damage to the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin.
Governor's spokesman Robert Black says said no one was inside the 150-year-old home when the fire began shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. He says the cause is not yet known.
The mansion had been undergoing a $10 million renovation and Gov. Rick Perry and his wife had moved out last fall.
Black says the damage to the mansion "is extraordinary, bordering on catastrophic."
He says more than 100 firefighters are at the scene and the roof of the mansion is very unstable.
Your issue is so important to you, and gawd knows you are the most important person in the universe, that you feel the obligation, the duty, an imperative to hijack any damn thread you feel like to talk about your issue, despite its utter irrelevance to the thread.
You are that damn important.
Either that, or you are perhaps the most insensitive self-centered poster at this forum.
Let’s take a vote.
The TX gov DOES live there—had just moved out for renovations....which probably is root of fire.
Spot on, I agree.
Odessa. The house was moved from it’s former address in Odessa, to a place behind the Presidential Museum on the UTPB campus.
(To other readers, the Presidential Museum is for all presidents, and was in existence long before even Bush 41 was elected.)
Sad!
It’s his world, we’re just living in it.
Arson suspected in fire at governor’s mansion
Fire officials this morning said there is evidence that the fire overnight at the Texas Governor’s Mansion was intentionally set.
Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call the state Fire Marshal’s hot line at 877-434-7345.
Robert Black, Gov. Rick Perry’s press secretary, said he was notified of the fire at 2 a.m. He said his first concern was if anyone was injured and that his second concern was for “the loss of a Texas treasure.”
Black said the mansion was completely empty of contents. The walls had been stripped of paint and wallpaper, and that workers had been accessing the pipes inside the walls.
“What has been lost today can never be replace,” Black said. “The loss is incalculable for the state of Texas.
State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado, who called the fire a “terrible tragedy,” said: “We’re going to come get the person responsible for causing this damage.”
At 11:15 a.m., the fire has been extinguished, but officials said there were still some hot spots that will likely flare up throughout the day.
The national response team from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is mobilizing to come to Austin and will be here Monday, officials said.
Thank God.
Thanks for the update.
I just copied that article from the statesman website at reply #207
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2027855/posts?page=207#207
I would pay the big bucks to get seated on the jury.
Somebody just messed with Texas.
Yes, I’d like to be on that jury too, but I don’t think I’ll take Ann Coulter’s “Treason” with me if I get called.
I have an idea. I think the governor should live wherever he wants to live and then, at taxpayer expense, fly to Austin to do the peoples' work.
Arrowhead, you just know that there is no place this cowardly skank can hide from justice. There will be no stone left unturned until this/these criminals are behind bars.
On another note, your tagline, “No to BO” I like it.
Might have to use it at work.
bookmark
Sounds like half of my neighbors. Better get home in time to shower and change for church.
Its a sad day for Texas. they must find who is behind this fire. The mansion must be rebuilt so it looks exactly like it did. The Governor has many enemies, they might have done it or it could have been one nut case. We may never know.
I have had several people tell me I am the #1 driver in Austin!!! Of course, they are all the Volvo driving leftover hippie types with
bumper stickers.
Thanks. I see “nmh” still rants on with her self righteous indignation. She keeps digging a deeper hole. I rarely engage in rancor on FR but couldn’t let nmh’s opinions go unanswered.
“Texans for Hussein 08” I haven’t seen one of those yet, but I don’t drive that much. Mostly just from P-ville to Wells Branch and back. Although I have seen some big-o yard signs around, and I don’t think they referred to Oscar Snowden.
Update on FoxNews:
All the historic furnishings and heirlooms had been removed from the mansion for the renovation project.
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