Arson Ruled Out in Main Line Mansion Fire

Investigators say there is no evidence to even suggest arson as the cause of the massive fire

Investigators have not figured out the cause, but say there is no evidence pointing to arson, according to Radnor Police Superintendent, Bill Colarulo.

All that's left of the once-sprawling Main Line Mansion is the charred remains and stone walls.

The 22,000-plus-square-foot historic Horace Trumbauer-designed mansion at 200 S Ithan Avenue in Villanova, Pa. went up in flames on April 5.

State Police and state fire officials are leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.

Neighbors told NBC10 that renters were apparently inside when the fire started.

β€œWe spoke with the gardener and he was the first one to see the flames, they jetted out of the third floor window, he was outside at the time, saw the flames on the third floor” said Beverly Ornik.

β€œThe current renters of the house were both in their second floor offices respectively, they came out because they smelled something and they asked the gardener where’s the fire?” Ornik added.

A few firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the blaze.

Delaware County assessed the property for nearly $2.25 million in August 2006 but the historic home, built more than 100 years ago, could be worth more.

Fire struck the house once before. In 1978, flames consumed a large portion of the upper level.

Jerald Batoff bought the home in 2001, according to Delaware County records.

The home was up for sale in the Fall for $6.9 million, a real estate source tells NBC10. It doesn't appear it ever sold.


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