University police yesterday deactivated the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering building arson investigation because of insufficient evidence and a lack of suspects.

The case will remain open, but barring the introduction of new evidence, no further investigations will be conducted, said Cpl. Larry Forchione, a University of Arizona Police Department detective.

The Feb. 4 fire, which caused over $100,000 damage to the old Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering building, 1302 E. North Campus Drive, destroyed four faculty offices and a conference room on the second floor of the building.

The fire closed the entire building for over two weeks, said Joseph A.C. Humphrey, AME department head.

As part of their investigation, police interviewed several students known or thought to have been in the building at the time of the fire and one student known to be disgruntled with the department, Forchione said. After talking to police, none of the students could be considered suspects.

University detectives worked with Tucson Fire Department investigators, who also are looking into two other campus-area arsons.

"AME is not related to the other two fires," Forchione said.

Humphrey said all employees who worked in the charred rooms have been relocated with the help of other engineering departments on campus.

"It really has been an incredible experience," Humphrey said, talking about the outpouring of assistance AME has received from other departments.

Humphrey added that fire restoration crews have been quick in returning usable equipment from the affected rooms to the department.

The old AME building is scheduled to be demolished after department units are moved to the new complex at the northeast corner of North Mountain Avenue and East Speedway Boulevard, said Sharon Kha, assistant to the university president, in an earlier interview.