Nova Scotia

St. Mary's Polish Church fire likely accidental

St. Mary's Polish Church in Whitney Pier was reduced to rubble in Saturday's fire.

101-year-old sanctuary destroyed in weekend blaze

Firefighters battle a blaze at St. Mary's Police Church in Sydney on Saturday. (Courtesy Lee Stewart)

A fire that destroyed a historic church in Cape Breton likely started accidentally, a fire official says. 

St. Mary's Polish Church in Whitney Pier was reduced to rubble in Saturday's fire.

The church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013 and parishioners have already announced their intention to rebuild.

Deputy fire marshal Doug MacKenzie says the investigation is still in the early stages, but information gathered since the fire point to an accidental cause.

Fire investigators were on the scene Monday and their work included using a drone to take some aerial photographs of the rubble.

MacKenzie says cleanup of the site will begin once they complete their work.