SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Witness statements or interviews with construction crews working in the area where the Diamond Fire began in North Scottsdale last summer were not factored in the state's investigation into the cause of the fire. Department of Forestry and Fire Management investigators ruled the cause of the fire to be undetermined.
The lead investigator on the case told 12News he did not know if construction crews were ever interviewed as part of the investigation.
“I don't know. I don't know. That was, again, something that I believe Scottsdale was going to take care of. Actually, they were going to take care of that, those interviews with the contractors. I believe they did some. I don't know how many and with which specific company, but there was several crews working that scene," said Aaron Casem, the Diamond Fire lead investigator with DFFM.
Scottsdale officials have yet to respond to 12News' questions about whether or not they did, in fact, interview those construction crews. However, a DFFM spokesperson said they did not receive any witness statements.
The only interviews the state conducted themselves were with two of the fire personnel who first responded to fight the Diamond Fire.
One reported seeing construction equipment, saws and rebar material in the area of the suspected origin site. The other stated they saw construction workers actually spraying the area with a garden hose.
The state's origin and cause report also notes investigators observing multiple construction contractors working around the structure and property.
Drone footage taken by fire investigators one day after the fire broke out shows officials honing in on a home under construction in the Shea Homes Storyrock subdivision.
City of Scottsdale permit records show a home was in the process of being built at that site when the Diamond Fire started. A permit was issued to Shea Homes in November of 2022 with construction work being done throughout 2023. A certificate of occupancy was issued in December, six months after the Diamond Fire.
Ultimately, officials said they were unable to determine the cause of the fire because the scene was compromised and not properly sealed off due to suppression efforts. There was a 15-hour delay in securing the securing and protecting the suspected origin site, leaving no physical evidence.
"It is frustrating because you do want to find out what the cause, where it was, but again, it's a good lessons learned for both our agency and Scottsdale," Casem said. "We know we did such a good job with suppression. But on the flip side, moving forward, let's refine our tactics to make sure that we're both in sync so we're doing our best when it comes to these investigations so we can do a better job."