COLUMBUS, Ind. -- A Christmas Eve fire destroyed the United Way building in Columbus, forcing dozens of agencies to find new headquarters.

The fire began at about 7 p.m. Thursday, and firefighters were still putting out hot spots on Christmas Day, 6News' Joanna Massee reported.

Former State Fire Marshal Roger Johnson said the blaze was the worst in Columbus in three decades, but no one was hurt.

"The fire started above the sprinkler system on the top floor and was running in the attic," said Columbus fire spokesman Matt Noblitt.

Thirty-seven agencies used the building to provide various services to the public.

"It's disastrous. I mean, this is where people came for services in this community," said Doug Otto, president of the United Way of Bartholomew County. "There's a feeling for all of us of having seen our life's work go up in smoke, and that's a pretty bad feeling."

Otto said fire investigators don't think the blaze was intentionally set, but they aren't sure what sparked the fire.

"It was such a massive fire and spread so quickly," Johnson said. "There were a couple of close calls where the firefighters were in grave danger."

Important records and numerous pieces of office equipment were destroyed in the fire, but Otto said most of the records were backed up elsewhere.

More than 90 firefighters battled the blaze.