Fire Causes $300,000 in Damage

The West Chester Fire Department battled a kitchen fire Monday morning that left the building uninhabitable and caused an estimated $300,000 in damage.

At around 8:45 a.m. the West Chester Fire Department received a 911 call after a third floor resident came home to his apartment and discovered smoke. 

Fire fighters found the fire in the kitchen at the rear of a second floor apartment.  West Chester fire chief Dale McClure said that the fire appeared to be accidental.

According to Chief McClure the fire started in or at the apartment's toaster or where the toaster plugged into an electrical outlet in the wall. 

McClure also said that upon arrival on the scene fire fighters discovered the toaster to be in the down position.

McClure added that the toaster was sitting on top of the oven but below the cabinets.

McClure also declared the building uninhabitable because of the damage as well as because the department cut all utilities to the building in the fire fghting process.

McClure estimated that the fire caused $200,000 woth of damage to the building and $100,000 to its contents.