Historic Church Fire Ruled Accidental

Fire officials say the blaze that gutted a century-old Pitman church was an accident. Gloucester County Fire Marshal William Reiger says electrical wiring is likely the cause of last night's blaze. Follow-up tests will be done to confirm that.

Reiger said the fire began in a wall between the first and second floors of the United Methodist Church, then spread to the attic, erupting in a fireball.

More than 900 congregants worshipped at the red brick building.

A restoration fund has been established at Gloucester County Federal Savings Bank on Broadway.

The fire began about 7:00 p.m. and was discovered by a Boy Scout whose troop usually meets at the church.

The Scout forgot that the site of a meeting had been changed. The youth went into the church, smelled smoke and called 9-1-1 as the blaze quickly went to multiple alarms.

The roots of the Gloucester County church stretch back nearly a century.

The red structure was known for its wooden pews and stained glass, particularly a 15-by-20-foot panel depicting angels and an empty tomb.

Dan Munyon, who owns the nearby Broadway Theater, has already extended to the church and its parishioners an invitation to hold Sunday services inside the theater.

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