Firefighters attempted to contain an early morning blaze that appeared to break out inside an unoccupied Troy church, causing the roof to collapse is now badly damaged.
Crews responded at about 3:15 a.m., early Thursday, Aug. 6, and sought to attack the inferno, which engulfed the one-story structure. But, the Troy fire department said, as crews tried to enter Troy Church of Christ at 800 Trombley Road they faced smoke, flames and a collapsing ceiling.
They were forced to retreat from the building and extinguish the flames from a safe distance.
Firefighters did not leave the scene until about 9 p.m.
“Our crews faced difficult and rapidly changing conditions upon arrival this morning,” the fire department told the Free Press. “While the structural damage to the church is significant, we are extremely thankful that the building was empty and no one was injured.”
Where and how the fire started is now under investigation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze when a police officer on patrol smelled smoke at Troy Church of Christ, according to WJBK-TV (Fox 2). A minister, the TV station reported, told reporters on the scene that the church building appeared to be a total loss.
The fire department said the structure was badly burned, with extensive fire, smoke and structural damage.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Firefighters battle early morning blaze at church in Troy
Reporting by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
