Old City church tests external fire protection sprinkler system

One of the oldest original structures in the nation, Christ Church in Old City, is in need of serious preservation work to its steeple, and fundraising efforts are underway.
Photo credit John McDevitt/KYW Newsradio
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In the wake of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, Christ Church in Old City tested its steeple's external sprinkler system. 

It might have seemed like it was raining at Christ Church for passersby on Wednesday, but it was the deluge exterior fire prevention system being tested on the steeple of the 18th century church, where some of our forefathers like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were congregants.  

With scaffolding soon to go up for summer restoration work, what happened in Paris to Notre Dame Cathedral is very much on the mind of church leaders.  

Some sprinkler heads, some dating back 25 years, are expected to be switched out.

The steeple, standing nearly 200 feet in the air, caught on fire once before in 1908 because of a lightening strike.

.@ChristChurchPHL tests it’s steeple’s external sprinkler system in wake of #NotreDameCathedralFire. Doing both radio & tv today. @KYWNewsradio @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/lQL8NogXIQ

— John McDevitt (@JM1060) April 17, 2019

"And miraculously, the thunder storm that accompanied the lightening blast extinguished the fire before too much fire, before too much damage could be made,"  Safford said. 

He says that was the inspiration to create a deluge sprinkler system in the Steeple on Wednesday.