Foul play is not suspected in a $1.7 million fire that destroyed the 168-year-old building housing Alexander Funeral Home in downtown Chatham.

Det. James Niven of the Chatham-Kent Police Service, said fire investigators and the police service have ruled out foul play. But he said the investigation is ongoing.

Niven said the Wellington Street fire site would likely be released to the owners of the funeral home late Monday afternoon.

Niven said investigators were able to narrow down an area in the basement of the building where they suspect the fire originated.

Niven updated reporters after sifting through the basement area of the building with an investigator from the Ontario Fire Marshall Office and fire inspector Scott Doman of the Chatham-Kent Fire Department.

Two urns containing cremated remains were recovered by firefighters in the basement of the structure. Doman said they were on the second floor when the fire broke out and fell unharmed to the lower level, where they were found under some rubble. The urns were returned to the families.

Niven said the remaining portion of the facility was declared structurally unsafe and would be razed within the next 48 hours.

The fire in the more than a century-and-a-half-old building, drew throngs of spectators throughout the weekend, many of sporting cameras to capture the aftermath of the fire.

Several stopped and stared and shook their heads in disbelief. The building was originally constructed as a home for a member of the McKeough family and was known as "Summer Land.''

Among those at the scene Saturday was Bill Alexander, who owned and operated the business from 1968 to 1985.

Alexander said it would be nearly impossible to replace the fancy and intricate woodwork in the building, which featured a solid walnut staircase containing hand-turned spindles.

"It's a shame the building was destroyed by fire,'' he said.

Also catching a final glimpse of the building was Ann Dawson of Chatham. A funeral for her mother, Pat, took place at the facility earlier in the week.

"I came by Friday morning to pick up my mother's ashes,'' she said. "I'm sure glad I did.''

Dawson said she understood there were no other funerals scheduled for the weekend.

Dan Houle, owner of the funeral home, declined to be interviewed throughout the weekend despite repeated attempts by a Chatham Daily News' reporter.

According to published reports, Houle and his wife have spent considerable time restoring the building since they purchased it in 2002.

The Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce recognized the business as corporate citizen of the year in 2008.

Thick, black smoke billowing from the scene forced temporary evacuation of a number of nearby residents Friday night.

Smoke was also reported in the Chatham campus of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and forced an early closure of the Chatham-Kent Family YMCA.

Scott Burke, who lives nearby, said the fire, which began shortly after 10 p.m., was still burning the next morning when he left for work.

"We live down the street but we didn't receive any evacuation notice," he said.