BP officials say they are weeks away from being able to restart regular operations at the Cherry Point refinery, two months after a fire shut the facility down.

More than 3,000 contract workers have been on site doing cleanup and maintenance work at the Blaine refinery.

The Bellingham Herald ( http://is.gd/Qm5EdV) reports maintenance work is winding down. BP spokesman Mike Abendhoff says the refinery is expected to begin operating normally sometime in early May.

Abendhoff says the fire is still under investigation and the company continues to work with state agencies to determine the cause.

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Information from: The Bellingham Herald, http://www.bellinghamherald.com