Tipp City firefighters responded to the church on a report of smoke coming from the sanctuary, according to the fire department. A church leader reportedly discovered the fire when he was opening the building for youth group activities. Smoke detectors in the church were not going off, according to the fire department.
Smoke was showing when crews arrived on scene. Everyone was evacuated from the church.
Firefighters located the fire in the sanctuary on or near the altar, according to the fire department. They extinguished the fire and checked the rest of the church to make sure the fire didn’t spread.
The origin of the fire was located in an area where a candle was used for the morning services, according to the fire department.
The primary damage is smoke damage inside the church. Estimated damages are worth $50,000 for the property and $25,000 for the contents.
Multiple fire apparatus responded to the church, as well as multiple personnel who responded from home, the West Milton Fire Department and medics from Union Twp. The State Fire Marshal’s Office Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau has been notified.
We will update this story as more information is available.
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