A massive fire Tuesday evening destroyed the Swany White flour mill in Freeport, Minn. The entire structure collapsed as bystanders filled the streets of the Central Minnesota town to watch firefighters battle the flames, which could be seen for miles.

The owner of the century-old Swany White Flour Mill in Freeport tells the Star Tribune he has no plans to rebuild and that doing so would just be too expensive. The fire chief says investigators do not yet know the cause of the massive blaze that destroyed the iconic structure, but they have ruled out arson.

Firefighters are still trying to determine the cause of a massive fire that destroyed the historic Swany White flour mill in Freeport, Minn. The entire structure collapsed as bystanders filled the streets of the Central Minnesota town to watch the blaze, which could be seen for miles.

Investigators could not determine what caused the blaze that destroyed the landmark Swany White mill. The deputy state fire marshal said in a report released Tuesday that he could not conduct a thorough investigation because crews demolished the building to ensure the fire was out.

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for much of central and south central Minnesota Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

The shutdown of Sartell's Verso Paper Mill has created an economic ripple effect. Northern Minnesota loggers who sell their timber to the mill are feeling it, as are those who make and maintain the mill's equipment. Local officials want the state to help Verso repair the damage of last month's explosion and fire.

The necessary permits are in place to build a 95-megawatt wind farm north of Paynesville, but Edina-based Geronimo Wind Energy is still looking for a utility company to buy its energy. A St. Cloud Times report says this has delayed construction by a year on central Minnesota's first large-scale wind farm, that includes as many as 60 turbines.