HALLOWELL -- Investigators expect to determine the cause of a fire that devestated a historic Hallowell home Tuesday by tonight.

The 51 Winthrop Street home went up in flames Tuesday morning. In less than an hour, most of the white home had burned to rubble.

Two people, Patricia Lathom, 76, and her husband, Wallace Lathom, 74, were taken to seperate hospitals for burns and smoke inhalation. Patricia Lathom was released Christmas morning. Wallace Lathom remains at Maine Medical Center in Portland with what investigators considered life-threatening burns.

Ken MacMaster, the primary investigator from the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office, said his office would hold off until Patricia Lathom was released from the hospital to interview her about what happened the day of the fire so a cause may be determined. He planned to interview her this evening, he said.