The owner of the vacant car dealership in Yorktown destroyed by an overnight fire is denying allegations of arson.

Authorities say the fire started at about 1 a.m. Tuesday at the old Curry Ford dealership at 3493 Crompond Rd. About 150 firefighters battled the flames for two hours. However, the fire started raging out of control within 20 minutes of their arrival, causing the roof to collapse. Three firefighters were injured while trying to extinguish the flames.

An excavator that was used to clear debris and locate pockets of fire fell 8 feet into the basement during the effort. The operator of the machine escaped unharmed.

The Mohegan Lake Fire Department has ruled the fire suspicious. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been brought on board to help with the investigation.

However, Cappy LaBarbera, of the Curry Corporation, says the fire that damaged $4 million worth of property and reduced the showroom to a pile of rubble was not set on purpose.

A new Curry Nissan dealership is expected to open in August next door to the building that burned down Tuesday morning. Construction on the new dealership will continue Wednesday.