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Fire Destroys 107-Year Old Historic New York Church
JIM FITZGERALD
Associated Press
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Fire destroyed the interior of a 107-year-old Baptist church Monday morning and filled several blocks of downtown New Rochelle with smoke.
There were no serious injuries.
Firefighters were still pouring water from atop a ladder into the bell tower of Union Baptist Church eight hours after they arrived, which was just before 1:30 a.m. Fire Commissioner Raymond Kiernan said at 5 p.m. that the fire was not out, but "still smoldering under wreckage from the interior collapse."
He said an investigation into the cause would begin Tuesday.
City Manager Charles Strome said city and church officials would confer Tuesday on "the viability of the structure."
While the church's stone outside walls - and a bright red front door - survived, only a few charred timbers of the roof remained. Pieces of blown-out stained glass windows were on the sidewalk across the street.
Deputy Fire Chief John Marshal said the church interior was a total loss. He said the cause had not been identified.
"The men went inside at the beginning but we had to take them out because of the chance of a collapse," he said. "We've been here since 1:30, pouring water, knocking it down, then pockets would flare up somewhere else."
He said a nearby dormitory for Monroe College was evacuated, but "the smoke on the street was worse than inside" when the students came out.
The church was the home of Salem Baptist Church from 1904 until it was sold to Union Baptist in 1972. Union Baptist Pastor Reginald Hudson said, "We're going to rebuild. ... We're going to rebuild better."
The church is on the Westchester County Inventory of Historic Places. At the time of the designation in 1994, the city historian said the church was chosen for its cultural and historic characteristics and its exemplary architecture.
Kiernan said 100 firefighters had responded and three suffered smoke inhalation. They were treated and released.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Associated Press
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Fire destroyed the interior of a 107-year-old Baptist church Monday morning and filled several blocks of downtown New Rochelle with smoke.
There were no serious injuries.
Firefighters were still pouring water from atop a ladder into the bell tower of Union Baptist Church eight hours after they arrived, which was just before 1:30 a.m. Fire Commissioner Raymond Kiernan said at 5 p.m. that the fire was not out, but "still smoldering under wreckage from the interior collapse."
He said an investigation into the cause would begin Tuesday.
City Manager Charles Strome said city and church officials would confer Tuesday on "the viability of the structure."
While the church's stone outside walls - and a bright red front door - survived, only a few charred timbers of the roof remained. Pieces of blown-out stained glass windows were on the sidewalk across the street.
Deputy Fire Chief John Marshal said the church interior was a total loss. He said the cause had not been identified.
"The men went inside at the beginning but we had to take them out because of the chance of a collapse," he said. "We've been here since 1:30, pouring water, knocking it down, then pockets would flare up somewhere else."
He said a nearby dormitory for Monroe College was evacuated, but "the smoke on the street was worse than inside" when the students came out.
The church was the home of Salem Baptist Church from 1904 until it was sold to Union Baptist in 1972. Union Baptist Pastor Reginald Hudson said, "We're going to rebuild. ... We're going to rebuild better."
The church is on the Westchester County Inventory of Historic Places. At the time of the designation in 1994, the city historian said the church was chosen for its cultural and historic characteristics and its exemplary architecture.
Kiernan said 100 firefighters had responded and three suffered smoke inhalation. They were treated and released.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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