Walhalla Church Fire ruled Accident

Investigators are calling Saturday’s major fire at a Walhalla church an accident. The fire started Saturday morning at Walhalla Presbyterian Church on 600 East Main Street. It took 100 firefighters from eight departments to put it out. The fire started on the second floor in a room where the church keeps all its sound equipment. However, the damage to the equipment inside that room is so extensive; Oconee County Fire Chief Charlie King said we will never know which piece of equipment started the fire. The roof and the structure above the sanctuary are gone. Nevertheless, church leaders are hoping they can salvage the pews and some other things that have water damage but were not destroyed. The church was just months away from celebrating its 100-year anniversary.