Former Centre County Church Damaged by Fire, Investigation Underway

A second-alarm fire that caused extensive damage to a former church in Patton Township early Wednesday morning is under investigation by state police as possibly intentional, according to a Centre Region fire official.

The old Fillmore United Methodist Church, 2622 Buffalo Run Road, is the second Centre County church building to be ravaged by a possibly intentional fire in the last month. A blaze that destroyed the sanctuary of Woodycrest United Methodist Church, 219 W. Clearview Ave. in Patton Township, on Sept. 14 has also been under investigation by fire marshals as possibly intentional, Centre Region Fire Director Shawn Kauffman told StateCollege.com on Wednesday.

The cause of Wednesday morning’s fire at the corner of Buffalo Run and Fillmore roads near the Benner Township line has not yet been determined. Kauffman said he has not received a report on the Woodycrest UMC fire and did not know if investigators had reached a conclusion as of yet.

Alpha Fire Company responded at about 2:45 a.m. Wednesday to the former Fillmore UMC and found a “well-involved” fire, Kauffman said. Crews went inside the building in an attempt to extinguish it but were pulled out when part of the roof collapsed.

Bellefonte Fire Department was also dispatched to the scene, and they were joined by about eight tankers from fire companies around the county. Centre LifeLink EMS and Centre County Emergency Management also responded.

Crews had the fire under control in about an hour, Kauffman said. While most crews were released around 5 a.m., firefighters remained on the scene until late Wednesday morning putting out hotspots.

The fire appeared to have started on the outside of the building, Kauffman said.

“Anytime there’s a fire that starts on the outside of the building, it’s often looked at as an intentional fire,” Kauffman said. “So [investigators] do their due diligence, just make sure they get it right.”

No one was injured and the building was unoccupied. The building has not been used as a church for several years, and Kauffman said gym equipment was inside.

Buffalo Run Road/Route 550 was closed in the area of the fire for about three hours.

Police tape surrounded the property and a state trooper’s vehicle was on the scene on Wednesday afternoon.