Officials Look for Cause of Athens Fire

Investigators are still trying to figure out what sparked the fire that reduced an Athens landmark to ashes.

The roof of concert hall that once hosted the likes of REM, the B-52's and Dave Matthews Band collapsed after the early moing fire that continued throughout the day.

The fire is now extinguished. What's left in its place is a building façade and little else. From the street you can see the charred chairs and tables of what was once Athens biggest live music venue.

Greg Jankowski's band was scheduled to play in just two weeks.

"I never played there, never got a chance, I finally got my chance, two weeks, bued down," said Jankowski.

"Just to be on the stage playing that night, that was a dream come true. It was great, the sound in there was amazing," said musician John Machado.

Machado's band, Rockinwood, was the last to take the stage and play the night before the building bued down.

When you came down here today, how hard was it to see this place?

"It's hard, man. It's hard to see it go. This was actually our first show playing at the theatre and we thought it would be the first of many," said Machado.

As onlookers continue milling around the scene, investigators are scheduled to arrive back out here Monday to continue figuring out, what exactly happened inside.

Athens Clarke County Fire Battalion Chief John Mason said, "Anytime you have a scene that needs to be investigated, you have to keep control of the scene -- keep the integrity so nobody can go inside. As long as you keep everybody out, they've got a clean scene for the investigators."

Now authorities are preparing for the arrival of the ATF Monday afteoon to assist in their investigation.