Fire That Destroyed 170-Year-Old Church Ruled an Accident

Cummington, MAA 170-year-old church that burned to the ground earlier this month is the result of a tragic fire accident, not foul play, according to the state fire marshal.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">Arson investigators had been looking into the fire that destroyed the West Cummington Congregational Church last Tuesday. Using a backhoe to sift through the smoke and ashes, the team eventually traced the cause of the accident to a malfunctioning furnace in the building's basement.

Fire Marshall Stephen D. Coan tells the Boston Globe that the building's age was a contributing factor to the speed with which the blaze spread, as the building lacked a functioning sprinkler system and an updated interior meant to minimize the effects of fires.

"When the fire department arrived, the building was pretty much engulfed in flames,'' Coan told the Globe in a telephone interview.

The investigation involved officials from the Cummington Public Safety Department, state police and agents from the US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who are typically involved in church fire investigations.