Officials: Cause of Moorestown Community House fire likely electrical
MOORESTOWN, N.J. (WPVI) -- It's as if the heart of Moorestown has been scorched.
Tuesday night's fire at the Moorestown Community House damaged the interior of the local landmark, which is home to more than 70 different clubs and organizations and a favorite location for weddings and other events.
"The fire was contained up to a second floor area up there. We do have water damage in the room below that," executive director Brad Kenney told Action News Wednesday.
As cleanup crews collected parts of the burned slate roof, fire investigators remain on scene working to determine the exact cause of the fire.
"Everything's looking like it's leaning toward an electrical issue in the attic area," Moorestown Fire Official Matt Orsini said.
Firefighters were called to 16 East Main St. around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday as smoke and flames tore through the second floor at the front of the building.
Firefighters from surrounding communities help battle the blaze.
"The Community House is the Community House. It's the heart of Moorestown so if that goes, how do you replace that?" resident Beth Baldt said.
"I'm so sad to see that it burned and my prayer is we can get together and we can fix this and that it will come back to life just like it always has," resident Sue Harris said.
The ballroom and garden room appear to be untouched.
That's a relief to Kristin Swanson of Manayunk. She and her fiance, George Millili, have a wedding planned at the community house this coming July.
"We have eight months until our wedding, so I'm hoping that if it's just cosmetic stuff and it can be done in time," she said.
The Community House was established in 1926 as a community center by one of the founders of RCA who live nearby.
For now, the many meetings and events and recreational activities that go on at the nonprofit will have to be postponed.
"Today is really a learning day for us to find out how long it's going to take. But we're very hopeful we'll be able to reopen soon," Kenney said.
Action News has learned children swimming in a pool had to be evacuated due to the fire.
No injuries were reported.
