Morning Star Baptist Missionary Church Burns to Ground
Historic Church Destroyed in Raging Four Alarm Fire
What sounded like an explosion alerted neighbors to the fire. The first alarm was called at 11:50 P.M. A second and third alarm quickly followed, and a fourth alarm was called at 12:15 A.M. Neighbors said they saw the flames and felt the heat immediately.
The first crews on the scene saw a large column of smoke that was back-lit by an orange glow. The fire grew hot so quickly that it kept fire fighters at a distance. Soon cars were engulfed in flame. Two vehicles were completely destroyed and several others damaged. The heat damaged siding on a house across the street, so fierce was its force. Fortunately the church had been empty and no one was hurt.
A passerby with a video camera caught the fire on tape. He said the steeple was as tall as surrounding trees and his camera caught it sinking into flames and disappearing. He was amazed, he said, the steeple was there and then it wasn't. Morning Star is an historical church so everyone in Portland had a loss in this fire. It was built in 1920 and had no sprinkler system.
More than 100 firefighters and twenty-four trucks responded to the fire. Investigators were not able to get inside earlier, but have begun talking to witnesses and making a report.
Pastor Albert Wayne Johnson stood in front of his church, watching it burn to the ground.
"We plan to rebuild, we plan to stay here," Johnson was quoted as saying.
Published by Sherry Asbury
I am a freelance writer/poet, from Portland Oregon. My work has appeared in many, many publications. I live with Rascal, my ferret and am disabled. View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentWhat a sad story. I wish them all the best. Hopefully the community will support them in their rebuilding efforts, although it won't make up for the fact that the building was also a historical landmark.