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Roof Leak Leads To Electrical Fire In Delaware County Nursing Home

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) - The fire itself has been ruled accidental, but the investigation doesn't end there.

Sparks started to fly when water leaked through holes in the roof and poured onto some wires.

Now police believe the holes are the result of vandalism.

It was a 3 a.m. wake up call that sent staff members at the Haverford Township nursing home into high alert.

About 123 patients all had to be evacuated due to a small fire.

"The fire itself was nothing more than a sparking junction box, but when the roof leaked with all the water, sparks started coming out of the ceiling. They pulled the pull station and the second call came in for smoke in the building," Haverford Twp. Fire Marshal Jim Marino said.

Police believe the holes in the roof were the work of vandals, and investigators are now looking into who is responsible.

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The fire sent the elderly patients outside in the middle of the night. Thankfully, volunteers from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Specialized Response Team helped move the elderly patients out of Brighten at Bryn Mawr.

"Sent patients to any number of facilities, hospitals, extended care places, anybody who had an open bed," said Haverford Twp. Chief of Paramedics James McCans.

It's believed the roof of the building will need to be replaced, and so it could be some time before residents are allowed to move back in.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS 3

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