Massive Fire Guts Former Century-Old Church In Chester

Alecia Reid reports.

LIVE FROM THE CBS BROADCASTCENTER IN PHILADELPHIA.THIS IS CBS3 "EYEWITNESS NEWS"AT 6:00.I DON'T THINK I'M HOMESLEEPING, I'M DREAMING THIS.IT'S MORE LIKE A NIGHTMAREAFTER A PIECE OF HISTORY GOES UPIN FLAMES, THE SEARCH IS ON FORWHAT OR WHO CAUSED THE MASSIVEFIRE THAT GUT ADD CENTURY OLDCHURCH.THIS IS "EYEWITNESS NEWS" AT6:00.WE'RE STREAMING LIVE.I AM UKEE WASHINGTON.THE CHURCH WAS VACANT BUT THEREWAS AN EFFORT UNDERWAY TO SAVEIT.AS ALICIA REID REPORTS, SOME ARECONVINCED THE FIRE WAS NOACCIDENT.Reporter: IT'S STILL A SHOCKTO MANY.GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES WERERAISED INSIDE THIS CHURCH.ONCE A PLACE OF REFUGE.THE FORMER THIRD PRESBYTERIANCHURCH IS NOW A SHELF IT'SFORMER EXISTENCE.THIS PLACE HERE, THE REASONWHY I'M SO EMOTIONAL IS BECAUSETHIS PLACE HELPED ILLNESSTHROUGH A LOT, WE WERE POOR DOWNHERE.Reporter: OVERNIGHT, FLAMESERUPTED.FOR HOURS SMOKE BILLOWED.IT ISN'T CLEAR IF FOUL PLAY WASINVOLVED BUT THE, A TF WAS ONSCENE INVESTIGATING.BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS TRESPASSING.SOME BELIEVE IT IS SUSPICIOUS.THERE WERE NO ELECTRICALLINES OR COMPONENTS IN IT.IT DIDN'T HAVE RUNNING WATER ORELECTRICITY.USUALLY A FIRE WILL START AS ARESULT OF FAULTY ELECTRIC WIRESWHATEVER, BUT THERE WERE NONE.Reporter: THIS COMES AT ATIME WHEN THE CHESTER HISTORICALPRESERVATION COMMITTEE HAS BEENWORKING TO RESTORE AT THESTRUCTURE FOR WEDDINGS,PERFORMING ARTS AND OR EVENTS.FOR WHAT'S LOST, SOME CAN'T GETPAST WHAT'S GONE.MY MOTHER WORKED THERE LIKE15, TEN TO 15 YEARS.EVERYBODY KNOWS HER AROUND ONTHE EAST SIDE.SHE PASSED AWAY.THEY PLANT ADD TREE BACK THERE,WHICH SORRY TO SAY IT BURNT OUT.Reporter: AS PUT THE CHURCH'SBEAUTY FROM THE PAST 125 YEARSREMAINS EDGED IN MEMORIES, THECOMMUNITY WILL NOW REMAINHOPEFUL.I JUST HOPE THAT SOME GOOD,IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OF GOOD CANCOME OUT OF THIS.Reporter: THIS IS STILL ANONGOING INVESTIGATION.SEVERAL HOMES NEARBY WEREEVACUATED, BUT EVERYONE HASSINCE RETURNED HOME.THANKFULLY, OFFICIALS SAY NO ONE