Firefighters spent hours battling a late-night blaze at the LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church property in downtown Grand Rapids, where part of the roof collapsed as investigators began working to determine what caused the fire.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
A major fire damaged a historic church property in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, late Wednesday night, sending firefighters into an hours-long battle with flames and causing part of the structure’s roof to collapse.
Emergency crews responded around 11 p.m. to the LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church property near Oak Street and Sheldon Boulevard, according to WOOD.
The cause of the blaze had not been determined as investigators began examining the heavily damaged site.
LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church has a history stretching back 133 years. However, the congregation said on social media that the fire was affecting the former Seventh Day Adventist building on the property and that its main LaGrave church building was not in danger.
“Part of a roof collapsed overnight at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church in downtown Grand Rapids after fire crews spent hours trying to put the flames out,” WOOD reported.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department said the fire started around 11 p.m. Wednesday near Oak Street and Sheldon Boulevard.
Firefighters encountered additional difficulties because the church property contains multiple additions, complicating efforts to reach and extinguish the flames.
“A spokesperson for the Grand Rapids Fire Department told News 8 that the fire started around 11 p.m. Wednesday night on Oak Street and Sheldon Boulevard,” according to WOOD. “On social media, LaGrave Avenue CRC said the fire was happening at the former Seventh Day Adventist building and there was no risk to the main LaGrave building.”
Crews remained at the scene for hours before shifting their attention to cleanup and the investigation.
“GRFD said there are multiple add-ons to the church which made it difficult to put the flames out,” WOOD reported.
“Firefighters worked to clean up all the mess as fire investigators look into what sparked that fire. The scent of smoke from the fire could be detected around the city in the early morning hours.”
No cause had been announced, and the information available did not identify evidence that the fire was intentionally set.
The church property is located less than two miles from the Islamic Center of Grand Rapids. No information provided by authorities connected the Islamic center to the fire.
The Grand Rapids blaze follows other fires involving historic Christian churches, including several churches in New York that have burned within the past year.
For now, investigators in Grand Rapids are focused on determining how Wednesday night’s fire began and assessing the extent of the damage after firefighters spent much of the night bringing the blaze under control.
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