Authorities: Candles likely led to Ohio church fire

ADA, Ohio (AP) — Investigators say unattended candles likely caused a fire that destroyed a church in northwest Ohio and forced a day care in the building to evacuate.

The State Fire Marshal’s office said today that investigators found no evidence of criminal intent in the fire at the First United Methodist Church in Ada on Tuesday. No one was injured.

The state says the fire will be ruled undetermined because safety concerns prevented investigators from completing their examination. But investigators say the blaze most likely resulted from candles igniting other materials.

A few homes and a library near the church suffered minor heat damage including burned roofs and melted siding.

The church’s web site says it was formed in 1852 and moved to the current site in 1899.