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NATCHEZ — The state fire marshal’s office has ruled the fire on Friday at Live Oak Nursery and Garden Center to be accidental.

Officials from the fire marshal’s office were in Natchez Wednesday morning investigating the fire.

“They found nothing to indicate arson,” said Natchez Fire Chief Robert Arrington. “They found it to be an accidental fire.”

He said the state fire marshal would release an official report, but that is the early conclusion. Arrington did not say what was found to have caused the fire.

The fire was reported at about 6 p.m. on Friday and took firefighters from all city stations and all volunteers from Adams County Fire Service to put out. Firefighters didn’t leave the scene until the early morning hours of Saturday.

Owner Dick Thompson said Friday evening he thought the fire was an act of arson started by a disgruntled employee. Thompson said he was assaulted by an employee at another location earlier on Friday and had to call the police for help.