Fire destroys vacant church building in Lexington
Lexington firefighters worked a structure fire overnight that destroyed an abandoned church building, according to the fire department.
The fire at 320 Georgetown Place was first reported to the fire department at roughly 11:08 p.m. Monday, said Jessica Bowman with the fire department. When crews first arrived, they found advanced fire conditions in the multi-story building and initiated a defensive fire attack.
A defensive fire attack is where firefighters fight the fire from outside the structure compared to directly confronting the fire internally in an offensive attack, Bowman said. The fire’s intensity and the building’s instability led to the defensive fire attack decision.
“Because the building conditions were so unstable, because the fire was so advanced, they fought the fire from outside the structure using master streams, they had the aerial ladders deployed,” Bowman said.
While fighting the fire, firefighters were protecting several buildings around the fire to prevent the flames from spreading. Bowman said one family was evacuated and temporarily placed in an alternative home by the Red Cross.
No injuries were reported and no one was transported to the hospital.
Firefighters said over 20 crews were on scene at one point trying to extinguish the fire. It took about 90 minutes to get the blaze under control.
Firefighters remained on scene throughout the night putting out hot spots, according to the department. Investigators are still on scene trying to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
Fire investigators are not investigating from inside the building due to the structure’s instability, Bowman said.
