Four Alarm Fire Destroys Church

Oregon - Portland Fire and Rescue responded to the report of a church on fire at 106 NE Ivy St. Crews reported seeing a column of smoke in the area as they were responding. When Heavy Rescue 1 arrived they reported a 3 story church that takes up 1/2 city block fully involved.

The church involved is the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church. Some of the callers reported to dispatch that they heard an explosion that "shook the house". The church building was so fully involved in fire that embers were being lifted high in the air by the thermal column and fell on neighboring residences.

Two houses had their roofs ignite and firefighters scrambled douse those flames. They successfully extinguished those fires and had the main body of fire knocked down in the church by 1:00 am. The annex building next to the church suffered heavy damage but firefighters were able to save most of the structure.

No injuries have been reported, and firefighters will be on scene though out the morning. Investigators from Portland Fire & Rescue have been working through the night interviewing witnesses and no cause has been determined at this time. ATF investigators will be on scene to assist Portland Fire Investigators.

Written and photos by Portland Fire Rescue