OXFORD – The owners of the Cozy Cat Country Store property agreed to work as quickly as possible to clear the remains of their burned-out building on Route 26.

The Board of Selectmen held a special meeting Thursday to determine if the building is a hazard. Fire Chief Fred Knightly and Code Enforcement Officer Rodney Smith agreed it is.

An early morning fire May 5 ravaged the structure.

Siblings Darrell and Diane Knightly, who have ownership claims on the property, attended the meeting. When questions were raised about why nothing has been done to clean up the building, Darrell said, “I thought it was still under the hold of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.”

“Yes, it (the blaze) was still under investigation, but they finally said Tuesday the investigation is over and it can be cleaned up,” Chief Knightly said.

Darrell Knightly said they were waiting for that news before they started cleaning up the property.

“Can you do it in 60 days?” selectmen Chairman Floyd Thayer asked.

Darrell Knightly said 90 days would be better, citing any unforeseen problems.

Town attorney Geoff Hole asked Fire Chief Knightly and Smith what needs to happen to the building. Knightly said the portion that housed the store needs to be torn down. He said there is still food in the building, and no one can go into the building to remove the food because it is unsafe.

Selectman David Ivey asked about the gas tanks on the site. Fire Chief Knightly said they was pumped out months ago.

“At this point, they are no concern whatsoever,” he added.

The board tabled discussion about the building to give the property owners 30 days to see how much work is completed.

Resident Ed Knightly said he thought the work would progress quickly.

“We’ll see what happens in four weeks and open discussion again,” Selectman Dennis Sanborn said.

Resident Archie McDonald thanked the selectmen for working with the property owners, as did other residents attending the meeting. A few raised concerns about the board’s not setting a deadline for the cleanup.