HAMER — A fire in Jefferson County that destroyed three buildings and left one person with minor injuries was primarily caused by the use of improper chimney flue materials, fire officials said.

The fire, which occurred at 1910 Old Highway 91 in Hamer at about 9:20 p.m. on Dec. 22, devastated three commercial buildings, two of which were used to store large amounts of tires, according to the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Hamer Store, one of the town’s oldest buildings built in 1910, was also among the buildings that were destroyed in the blaze.

Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office found that aluminum irrigation pipe that was being improperly used as a chimney flue was to blame for the fire.

“Idahoans are reminded that the use of listed and rated components are a must when installing solid fuel heating appliances and should be installed by a licensed and bonded contractor,” the fire marshal’s office said in a news release.