Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Origin of blaze traced to patio
ATF says inferno started outdoors, still no cause
WEST CHESTER » While the community continues to show strong support for the victims and displaced residents in the aftermath of the Barclay Friends inferno, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has announced a possible origin for the blaze.
“It is the collective opinion of the fire scene investigators that the fire did indeed originate on the exterior of the building, in the area of a covered patio at the rear of the south wing of the Woolman Building; however, the exact point of origin, as well as the cause the fire is still under investigation,” Charlene Hennessy, ATF special agent, said in a press release.
Following additional testing and investigation, the ATF will likely update the media concerning the Nov. 26 blaze next week, Hennessy wrote.
Four of 137 residents perished Officials say they believe the Barclay Friends Senior Living Community fire started on an outdoor patio, but the exact cause is not yet known.
in the five-alarm; 27 were injured. Husband and wife Delores Parker, 89, and Thomas Parker, 92, and 93-year old Mildred Gadde and 85-year old Theresa Malloy, succumbed in the fire, which chased 133 residents from their homes. More than 60 ATF investigators searched the rubble for clues.
Larry Elveru, director of communications for the Kendal Corp., owners of the Barclay Friends Senior Living Center, said there will be a mass meeting for residents and families at Westminister Presbyterian Church, in Westtown, on Monday.
“Given the personal, sensitive nature of the topics we’ll discuss and to protect the privacy of our families, we are limiting attendance to this meeting to just families,” Elveru wrote.
Four hundred firefighters and emergency responders who fought the late night blaze are invited to attend a free showing of “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play” on Christmas Eve at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, on High Street.
“After witnessing such a tremendous response to this tragedy from our community here in West Chester, we wanted to show our support,” said Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell, the venue’s Resident Theater Company’s producing artistic director.
The theater opened on Dec. 31, 2016, and since then has sold more than 15,000 tickets.
“We want to reach out and get to know the community,” McLaughlin Mitchell said. “We are focusing on what role we can play in the community.”
The New York City transplant and Broadway actress has lived in West Chester for five years.
“I’m inspired,” she said. “There are so many connections in a smaller town.”
The play depicts a 1940’s radio show, with a live audience. Six actors perform in more than 30 roles.
The sound effects are wonderful.
“A lot of time went into trying to create the sound effects,” McLaughlin Mitchell said. “Everything is just like it would have been in the 40s.”
The play opens Dec. 15 and runs Wednesdays through Sundays, with extra shows added during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
Emergency responders may contact the box office for free tickets to the Dec. 24 show. Families of firefighters are also invited. For both the general public and firefighters, the box office number is 610-356-2787. For more information go to www.uptownwestchester.org
West Chester University students and the Brandywine Valley SPCA teamed for a novel fundraiser.
Winter Puppyland playland took place Thursday at Sykes Student Union.
For $3, students and the public could cuddle and play with some of 25 puppies. Proceeds benefited Barclay residents who lost hearing aids, dentures and glasses. The event raised more than $2,500.