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fire damages diocesan offices

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

An overnight fire Jan. 30 in the attic of the building housing the diocesan Tribunal and Office of Child Protection at 2620 Lebanon Ave., in Belleville forced those offices to be temporarily moved.

The fire was confined to the attic, and fire investigators, who had not yet completed their investigation believed the furnace, which is located in the attic, was at least partially responsible for the fire.

Both offices were moved to an adjacent building on the campus of the Diocesan Pastoral Center located on the same property.

Office staff were told it could be several months before they can return to their offices.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire, which was discovered early Thursday morning when the maintenance supervisor had arrived to meet a repair crew for a broken water line adjacent to the building. The water line break was unrelated to the fire.

Office of Child Protection director, Lynn Muscarello, returned to her office when a professional cleaning crew began work to insure confidentiality of the files she has there. Tribunal files have also been secured.

To reach Child Protection or the Tribunal, please call 235-9601.