BELLINGHAM - Firefighters have not yet identified the cause of a fire that damaged a Bellingham footbridge on Thanksgiving weekend. But they have a pretty solid lead.

Bellingham Fire Marshal Jason Napier said Monday, Nov. 26, that a woman living underneath the bridge that crosses Whatcom Creek south of Ohio Street had been using small propane tanks to keep warm.

The woman was evacuated soon after the fire was reported at 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23. She has not been identified by the fire department.

It took firefighters hours to extinguish the flames. By the time it was cleaned up the damage was so severe investigators couldn't determine the point of origin, Napier said.

The bridge is closed until repairs are made.