GoFundMe launched to help Westmoreland County church damaged by fire

Fire broke out late Sunday night

Fire broke out late Sunday night

LEFT BEHIND. FIRE CREWS SPENT HOURS HERE LAST NIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS JUST A SMALL PORTION OF THE DAMAGE LEFT BEHIND. DEVON’S STATION FOR THIS SMALL COMMUNITY. AS SMOKE POURED FROM INSIDE THE STILES TOWN, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH LAST NIGHT, OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS DONE ON THE INSIDE. THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH TELLING US TODAY SHE BELIEVES THE INSIDE OF THE CHURCH WILL NEED TO BE GUTTED BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE. IT’S SAD. IT’S HEARTBREAKING. YOU KNOW, TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SO. AND WE JUST DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS LAST WEEK. DONNA PRITTS AND HER HUSBAND, DALE, ATTEND CHURCH HERE, A SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT ONE THAT’S CLOSE KNIT. THEY ALL GREW UP IN STALLS. THAT MEANS EVERYTHING REALLY THAT IS STALLS TOWN RIGHT THERE. THAT’S ONE OF THE OLDEST BUILDINGS HERE. THE PASTOR SAYS THE BUILDING IS OKAY. STRUCTURALLY, SO THERE IS SOME HOPE THEY’LL BE ABLE TO REBUILD. THE PRINCES SAY THEY WON’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY AND ARE HOPEFUL THIS COMMUNITY CAN FIND A LITTLE CHRISTMAS MAGIC JUST A FEW WEEKS EARLIER. I’M HOPING THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY WILL STAND BEHIND AND HELP US GET IT REBUILT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS. YEAH, I’M HOPING SO. I’M HOPING THAT THEY JUST DON’T DECIDE TO JUST TEAR DOWN. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL INVESTED. JASON, CHURCH OFFICIALS TELL ME THEY ARE HOPEFUL THEY CAN REBUILD AND ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH INSURANCE REPORTING. AN

GoFundMe launched to help Westmoreland County church damaged by fire

Fire broke out late Sunday night

Firefighters spent hours at the scene after smoke was spotted pouring from a church in Stahlstown, Westmoreland County.The fire was reported a little after 11 p.m. Sunday at the Stahlstown Trinity United Methodist Church.Crews remained on the scene four hours later.A Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 photojournalist saw smoke pouring from the brick structure but no visible flames.The pastor of the church told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 the inside of the building suffered significant smoke and water damage, but the building remained structurally stable.In the aftermath of the fire, church members were left to survey the damage."It means everything," Dale Pritts said. "That is Stahlstown right there. It's one of the oldest buildings in town.""It's heartbreaking to see something like this," Donna Pritts said. "We just decorated for Christmas last week."No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Church officials said they are working with the insurance company and they hope to be able to rebuild. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the church.

STAHLSTOWN, Pa. —

Firefighters spent hours at the scene after smoke was spotted pouring from a church in Stahlstown, Westmoreland County.

The fire was reported a little after 11 p.m. Sunday at the Stahlstown Trinity United Methodist Church.

Crews remained on the scene four hours later.

A Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 photojournalist saw smoke pouring from the brick structure but no visible flames.

The pastor of the church told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 the inside of the building suffered significant smoke and water damage, but the building remained structurally stable.

In the aftermath of the fire, church members were left to survey the damage.

"It means everything," Dale Pritts said. "That is Stahlstown right there. It's one of the oldest buildings in town."

"It's heartbreaking to see something like this," Donna Pritts said. "We just decorated for Christmas last week."

Stahlstown Trinity United Methodist Church

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Church officials said they are working with the insurance company and they hope to be able to rebuild.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the church.

GoFundMe launched to help Westmoreland County church damaged by fire

Fire broke out late Sunday night

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