LAS CRUCES - The city's daily newspaper expects to be fully moved into new temporary digs today, but the investigation into a fire that displaced staff is inconclusive, according to a Las Cruces Fire Department report being finalized this week.

The Las Cruces Sun-News' news-reporting, advertising and business operations will be located at the office complex at 715 E. Idaho Ave., Building 4, at the corner of Mesquite Street, while restoration continues downtown. It is unknown when employees can return to the red brick building at 256 W. Las Cruces Ave., which is undergoing roof work and other stabilizing measures to repair water and smoke damage.

The cause of the fire, which broke out around 1:20 p.m. Jan. 16 in an adjacent building the newspaper used for storage, remains unclear, said Las Cruces Police Department Deputy Chief Steve Mims.

"It's classified as undetermined, based on a lack of information that we have, but we're still following up with some additional leads at this time," Mims said.

There was no electricity to the building or gas service in the area, but nothing else is conclusively known about the start of the fire. In addition, surveillance footage from a Bank of the Rio Grande camera across the street was unable to provide a clear picture of anything - like a person entering the building - that indicates a cause, Mims said.

"We can't say that it was conclusively lit by a person," he said.

Foul play, as well, can't be ruled out either, he

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said.

"We've had a couple agencies offer to assist, but we're not sure where it could go," Mims said. "We're not going to say it's cold now, but we don't have anything concrete one way or the other."

Until repairs are complete downtown, customers can keep in touch through the Sun-News' main number, (575) 541-5400.

For issues relating to the Real Estate Press, call Advertising Manager Brian McDowall at (575) 640-0928,

For news tips, or to contact an editor or reporter, please call Online Editor Jason Gibbs at (575) 640-1050. Send a fax to (575) 527-5603.

The Sun-News will continue to provide daily coverage of events in Las Cruces, Santa Fe and around the world, both in print and online at lcsun-news.com.

Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5400.