 Investigating officials, after the fire, were convinced the vessel was the target of arson, and that the arsonists were German agents—an enemy of the United Kingdom and the United States, during World War I.Several suspects were arrested.However, it was later determined that the fire on Pier 9, that triggered the fire on board "Kerry Range", was due to an electrical malfunction that triggered oakum, a flammable product once used to pack seams on ships.