As the investigation of the fire the destroyed one of El Paso's oldest buildings continues, El Paso City Engineering recommends building and home owners take a closer look at the wiring in their own homes.

Fire investigators say it's still not clear if last week's downtown fire was intentional or accidental, but building owners can prevent future electrical fires with a better understanding of what to look for.

"We caution people who are buying homes to get an inspection," said Victor Morrison-Vega, El Paso City Director of Engineering and Construction. "Sometimes you'll find older homes with one, two, or even three electrical boxes, which is a sign people have tried to boost the electrical power in the house."

Although the historic buildings and homes in El Paso are wired for electricity, the wiring may not advance with the technology that relies on the electricity, according to Morrison-Vega who said when the city implements a code, it's for every construction project from there on and not applicable to older buildings.

"Those older buildings were safe at one point, and may still be safe, but they might not be used in safe manner," Morrison-Vega said. "We have to figure out what these buildings are currently being used for. Downtown is not a storage district and storage is not an acceptable use."

City Engineering says private home inspections can run about $75 and you can find more information on building inspection services at http://www.elpasotexas.gov/engineering/apps_forms.asp