Fire Hits Landmark Theater in Fullerton : Blaze: The Fox building on Harbor Boulevard had been closed for seven years, despite efforts to revive it. Damage is called minimal.

FULLERTON —  Firefighters battled a blaze of suspicious origin Sunday morning at the Fox Theatre, an Orange County landmark that business leaders and city officials have been trying unsuccessfully to revive since it went out of business in 1987.

The building, on Harbor Boulevard near Chapman Avenue, was empty when the fire broke out, fire officials said.

The vacant structure had been boarded up to discourage trespassers, but when firefighters arrived they found an open door on the second floor, officials said.

The blaze was contained in about 30 minutes and flames were kept from spreading to a nearby restaurant, fire officials said. The fire began near the stage but caused minimal smoke and damage to the aging structure, Fire Marshall John Clark said. Although the blaze appeared to be of a suspicious nature, officials declined to rule it an arson.

“There may have been people living here trying to cook,” Clark said. “You just don’t know.”

The once-popular movie house was built in 1925 and has been closed for seven years. Owner Edward G. Lewis has attempted over the years to restore the theater but has run into trouble getting financing.