Crews battle fire at former Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Chester

Cause of fire at vacant church in Chester under investigation

A fire at the vacant Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church has left the community reflecting on its past as officials continue to investigate the cause.

CHESTER, Pa. - A fire at a vacant church in Chester has left the community reflecting on its past as officials continue to investigate the cause.

What we know:

Fire crews responded to a call just before 6:00 a.m. on West Second Street, initially for wires down, but quickly discovered a fire. A second alarm was called an hour later due to the fire's size and nature, said John-Paul Shirley, Fire Commissioner, Chester Fire Department. 

"There was actually a mayday call, some of the crews became disoriented, the building was evacuated, all crews were accounted for, and at that point, we struck a third alarm and went to a defensive operation since then," he says.

The former Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church was decommissioned in 2024 and was up for sale. It formerly served as a food pantry and school, according to neighbors, holding many memories for residents like Lakeisha Sudler, who called 911 after hearing a boom noise.

"It’s been here for years, you can ride down 291 and notice it, it’s a historic church, you can’t miss it, we’re going to miss it though," she says.

Mayor's personal connection to the church

Mayor Stefan Roots said he attended the school in the seventies and sent pictures of the scene to former classmates. Despite being a member of a Baptist church, he appreciated the beauty of the catholic church.

"I had to come right down here, this is the very school I went to," he said.

Commissioner Shirley noted the challenges of church fires, and especially with this building. They had to navigate the fire burning between the basement and first floor. The marble floor sitting on wood also poses a risk of collapse, a danger seen in similar fires elsewhere, he says.

What's next:

The official cause of the fire is still under investigation, though initial calls suggest it may have started electrically behind the altar.