NORWAY – The Saturday fire that damaged the Ledgewood Motel has been ruled an accident.

Investigator Daniel Roy from the State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire Monday, and found it was caused by overheated wires, said state Fire Marshal Sgt. Ken Grimes.

Grimes said the fire originated above the ceiling in the attic space, and that electrical conductors there may have overheated. But an exact cause cannot be determined, he said.

“Due to the structural damage, we’re not able to take it any further,” said Grimes, without risking a roof collapse.

Grimes estimated the damage to the 18-unit motel, owned by Gay Cooper, at more than $150,000.

Neither Cooper nor her daughter Krista Hamilton, who manages the motel, wanted to talk about the fire, which was discovered around 1:30 p.m.

It took about 50 firefighters from four towns about 40 minutes to knock down the blaze. Damage appeared to have been contained to the north wing of the motel to the right of the office.