Cross on Aurora hospital’s roof catches fire

One of two 20-foot crosses on top of Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora caught fire Tuesday morning, the result of an apparent electrical problem, authorities said.

The fire began about 9:15 a.m. and burned out relatively quickly, Aurora Deputy Fire Chief John Lehman said.

“It appears there was some kind of (electrical) short in that wiring that led to the wiring burning and the Plexiglas melting,” Lehman said.

The cross is illuminated by LED lighting and recently was rewired by the hospital, he said.

The cross faces south and was the only structure damaged in the fire. No evacuation of the hospital was required, Lehman said.

When firefighters got to the roof, the fire had largely burned out, he said. Crews made sure there was no further damage to the building and helped remove the faulty circuit.