Firefighters struggled to contain a blaze that engulfed a 115-year-old church in West Philadelphia on Tuesday.
The inferno started at the Greater Bible Way Temple just before 3 p.m., causing sections of the building to collapse and one person to be injured.
“The entire church has been involved in fire,” Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said. About 100 firefighters were on the scene to fight the inferno.
“I see the smoke and the next thing I know I ran over to get the people out of the lobby. They didn’t even know the church was on fire,” a witness told Action News.
Firefighters got the three-alarm blaze under control by early evening, but the Philadelphia Fire Department said firefighters would stay on the scene all night.
The church fire has been placed under control. PFD members will remain on scene all night to douse hot spots. https://t.co/1h4HQtLLMT
— Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) August 27, 2019
The historic building has served as the facility for the Greater Bible Way Temple congregation since 1984.
