WILMINGTON, DE — More than five months after a massive three-alarm fire destroyed the historic Mother AUMP Church in Wilmington, investigators have officially classified the cause of the blaze as undetermined.
The fire broke out on May 17, 2026, at the church located at 9th and Franklin Streets. The blaze caused extensive damage to the historic building, prompting an investigation involving the Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office, the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the church’s insurance company.
According to the Wilmington Fire Department, investigators pursued all available leads and examined portions of the building that were safe to enter. However, a structural engineer determined that large sections of the fire-damaged building were unstable, preventing investigators from safely accessing those areas.
As a result, investigators were unable to fully examine portions of the structure that could have provided additional evidence about how the fire started.
Fire officials emphasized that classifying the cause as undetermined does not establish how the fire originated. Despite the extensive investigation, authorities have not identified a definitive cause.
The investigation remains open, and officials said additional investigative steps may be taken if new information becomes available.