PUYALLUP, Wash. -- The cause of a fire that destroyed the stage at an amphitheater near Puyallup has been ruled as accidental.

Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Jack Andren said it was a failed electrical wiring panel that started the two-alarm fire late Tuesday night that gutted the popular amphitheater.

The fire was reported about 11 p.m. and destroyed the two-story outdoor stage that was once used for religious productions.

When firefighters arrived at the structure at 14422 Meridian Ave East, they had to cut fence chains to get in and the center of the amphitheatre was already collapsing.

It took 35 firefighters about 40 minutes to get the two-alarm blaze under control.

"It was a tough thing to see," said Jerry Wagner, who was part of the amphitheater production group. "My daughter called me last night to tell me about it. I was hoping that it wasn't -- that it hadn't really happened."

Since 1982, the Champion Center Church would perform the annual Jesus
of Nazareth passion play at the amphitheater every summer. A cast of some 500 volunteers would perform one of only 8 passion plays in the country. It would fill the seats every year.

But the play stopped last year after the church sold the 36-acre site to Pierce County for $6.9 million. There was still talk of bringing the production back to life someday but now hopes seem dim after the fire.

Even though the theater is now gone, Wagner will cherish the memories of the play.

"My daughter trying to be a sheep herder, just little, little kids," he said. "And to watch those little kids put everything they had into it was a sweet thing."

Damage is estimated at $100,000.