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Windsor Raceway fire site too dangerous for investigator

It's not clear what started the Canada Day fire at the Windsor Raceway — and it may never be clear.

That's because the site is too unsafe for an investigator to enter.

Firefighters were called to the scene just before 5 a.m. on July 1. When they arrived, there was not much they could do.

District Chief Kenneth Hunt told CBC News that it was risky to let firefighters get close enough to put the blaze out. So the firefighters monitored the scene while the flames burned out on their own.

On Thursday, the fire department was monitoring the local air quality but tweeted during the afternoon that it had concluded all fire suppression activities at the site.

It warned the public to stay away from "this unsafe site."

Acting Deputy Fire Chief Andrea DeJong said the fire department is aware that people have been going to the scene and stealing copper and some of the salvage material.

Windsor police say they've responded to a handful of false alarms and possible trespassing calls this year.

The company responsible for the demolition hired a security guard to watch the site, DeJong said. But she suggested one might not be enough for the 95-acre property.

DeJong said the fire department will ask the company to have a water truck on site so they can put out any smouldering spots.

CBC News put in a call to the company, but they did not offer comment on Thursday.