The fire that destroyed a longtime Whitehall business last weekend was an accident.

Washington County Fire Coordinator Glenn Bristol confirms to NewsChannel 13 that the fire that raged through Champlain Beef was caused when a utility pole was knocked down by a vehicle, dropping live wires onto the meat processing company.

Bristol said the building was destroyed.

Champlain Beef is asking that any gestures of support for their 77-year-old business are directed to donations to the fire departments that responded to Saturday morning’s fire.