The three-alarm fire that destroyed a 151 year-old former church building last week was accidental, Chester fire officials said Wednesday.

Investigators from the Chester fire and police departments, Delaware County Criminal Investigation Unit, Pennsylvania State Police, and the ATF investigated the origin and cause of the fire. The fire was determined to be accidental caused by an electrical malfunction.

The blaze was reported at 5:44 a.m. on Nov. 26 at the former Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and would eventually take 28 hours to completely extinguish.

City of Chester Bureau of Fire said in a information release the first call was for wires down and when crews arrived they discovered an electrical line connected to the building was arcing and the church on fire.

At 5:55 a.m. Batta

See Full Page