Teens charged in Chester Heights Camp Meeting blaze

Five teen boys from Aston have been charged with trespassing and one has been charged with arson for a February fire that destroyed 10 cottages at Chester Heights Camp Meeting, according to state police.

The fire broke out around 11:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the spiritual retreat in Chester Heights that was built in the late 1800s and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the Chester Heights Camp Meeting website, it was believed three fires were started about 40 yards apart from one another. A white pick up truck and dark SUV were seen driving away from the scene.

In announcing the arrest of the five teens - four of whom are 16 and one who is 17 - state police did not provide a motive for the crime or details on how they were led to the boys. All five teens were charged with trespassing, but only one of the boys was also charged with arson, burglary, theft and related offenses.

Despite the destruction of the cottages, 52 still remain.